Taxonomy Work in Progress! ³

This locally common slug was originally (1972) assumed to be Sakuraeolis enosimensis, plausibly introduced from Japan via shipping ballast water into San Francisco Bay (their only location so far in California). However, DNA analysis shows them to be genetically distinct.

Notable Features ³

A relatively large aeolid (to 40 mm) with a pale orange body dotted with opaque white spots. There is a broken line of opaque white spots between the rhinophores. The oral tentacles are quite long, with a broad opaque stripe. The rhinophores are simple; orange with a white tip. The cerata are long and dotted with opaque white spots and white tips. When under extreme stress, the slug's cerata can drop off and wiggle like worms, perhaps to distract a predator.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Robin Gwen Agarwal, all rights reserved, uploaded by Robin Gwen Agarwal
2. (c) Robin Agarwal (ANudibranchMom on iNaturalist), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/30314434@N06/22665486350/
3. Adapted by Robin Gwen Agarwal from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakuraeolis_enosimensis

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• World Register of Marine Species

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