Dendronotus robilliardi explained

Dendronotus robilliardi is a species of sea slugs, a dendronotid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Dendronotidae.^[1]

Taxonomic history

This species was correctly recognised as separate from Dendronotus albus by Robilliard in 1960. However he identified it as D. albus and described the true D. albus as Dendronotus diversicolor.

Distribution

This marine animal can be found in the NE Pacific Ocean from Alaska to California and in the NW Pacific from Russia and Korea.

Description

This species grows to a maximum length of 40 mm. It is distinguished from Dendronotus albus by having more than four pairs of cerata, (typically 5 to 7), whilst D . albus is a bigger animal but has no more than four or five pairs.^[2] The body and cerata are translucent white with opaque white and orange-yellow tips to the cerata, although in some cases the orange-yellow is absent.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Bouchet, P. (2015). Dendronotus albus. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-01-26.
2. Robilliard, G.A. (1970) The systematics and some aspects of the ecology of the genus Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia). The Veliger, 12(4): 433 - 479.
3. Rudman, W.B., 2001 (August 12) Dendronotus albus Macfarland, 1966. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

   Diet

   This species feeds preferentially on the hydroid Thuiaria argentea in the family Sertulariidae. Dendronotus albus is said to prefer Abietinaria greenei, Hydrallmania distans and Abietinaria amphora.

   References