Marsenina stearnsii explained

Marsenina stearnsii is a species of small slug-like sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Velutinidae.

Description

The size of an adult shell varies between 15mm20mm. The thin, translucent white shell is visible through a dorsal pore in the mantle. The finely pitted mantle is white to pale pink with darker spots.

Distribution

This white slug-like snail is known from Alaska^[1] and central California.^[2] It can be found in the rocky intertidal, often in association with the ascidian Trididemnum opacum.^{[2] [3]} It is relatively rare, found in the low rocky intertidal, usually under rocks on the ascidian Trididemnem opacum which it matches in color and pattern and upon which it preys.^[4]

References

• Turgeon, D.; Quinn, J.F.; Bogan, A.E.; Coan, E.V.; Hochberg, F.G.; Lyons, W.G.; Mikkelsen, P.M.; Neves, R.J.; Roper, C.F.E.; Rosenberg, G.; Roth, B.; Scheltema, A.; Thompson, F.G.; Vecchione, M.; Williams, J.D. (1998). Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: mollusks. 2nd ed. American Fisheries Society Special Publication, 26. American Fisheries Society: Bethesda, MD (USA). . IX, 526 + cd-rom pp.
• ITIS info, authority and date

Notes and References

1. “Marsenina stearnsii - GBIF Portal.” Web. 1 Jan 2010. http://data.gbif.org/species/Marsenina%20stearnsii
2. “Marsenina stearnsii - Lamellarian on Flickr - Photo Sharing!.” Web. 1 Jan 2010. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mcduck/3197098221/#comment72157612587108572
3. “Trididemnum opacum with Lamellaria stearnsii on Flickr - Photo Sharing!.” Web. 1 Jan 2010. https://www.flickr.com/photos/top_down/1459465867/
4. http://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/Inverts/Mollusca/Gastropoda/Orthogastropoda/Caenogastropoda/Littorinimorpha/Marsenina_stearnsii/Marsenina_stearnsii.html Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California