Diaulula odonoghuei explained

Diaulula odonoghuei, the spotted leopard dorid, is a species of dorid nudibranch found in the Pacific Ocean. Identified as a cryptic species in 2016,[1] it is differentiated from its sister species Diaulula sandiegensis by having considerably more spots on their mantle.

Description

This nudibranch grows to about 100 mm (4") in length with many spots covering its mantle, this pattern can extend all the way to the edge of the mantle, a defining characteristic of this cryptic species

Distribution

This dorid nudibranch ranges from the sea of Japan to northern California.

Life habits

This species feeds on sponges.

Notes and References

  1. Lindsay. Tabitha. Kelly. Julie. Chichvarkhin. Anton. Craig. Sean. Kajihara. Hiroshi. Mackie. Joshua. Valdés. Ángel. November 2016. Changing spots: pseudocryptic speciation in the North Pacific dorid nudibranch Diaulula sandiegensis (Cooper, 1863) (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia). Journal of Molluscan Studies. en. 82. 4. 564–574. 10.1093/mollus/eyw026. 0260-1230. free.