Cockerell's Dorid
Limacia cockerelli (MacFarland, 1905)
Description 2
Ground color translucent greyish-white to yellowish-white. Dorsum bears numerous small, randomly distributed, white tubercles (some of which may bear a small orange-red dot apically) medially. Occasional individuals may have irregular orange-red blotches on dorsum. Margin of dorsum bears numerous elongate, rather clavate processes which are tipped with orange-red. Rhinophores with red-orange clavus and 10-16 lamellae. Branchial plumes 6-8, whitish, tipped with red-orange flecks. Labial tentacles short, digitiform. Distinguished from Limacia mcdonaldi which has dorsum with a single, medial row of large, red-orange tipped tubercles, running from the area anterior to the rhinophores to in front of the branchial plumes. The relatively shorter, doridiform body distinguishes this species from Triopha catalinae which has slightly prolonged large orange tubercles which bear very small branches or tubercles, rather than elongate, rather clavate processes on dorsum.
Size 2
Typically about 15mm in length, but may exceed 25mm.
Geographic Range 2
Ketchikan, AK, to Point Loma, San Diego, CA.
Notes 2
Preys on the bryozoan Hincksina velata.
References 2
MACFARLAND, F. M. 1966. Studies of opisthobranchiate mollusks of the Pacific coast of North America. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences 6:1-546, pls. 1-72. PDF
McDONALD, G. R. 1983. A review of the nudibranchs of the California coast. Malacologia 24(1-2):114-276. PDF
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF MARINE INVERTEBRATE TAXONOMISTS. 2018. A taxonomic listing of benthic macro- and megainvertebrates from infaunal & epibenthic monitoring and research programs in the southern California bight, edition 12, 1 July 2018, xviii + 167 pp. PDF
URIBE, R. A., F. SEPÚLVEDA, J. H. R. GODDARD, & Á. VALDÉS. 2017. Integrative systematics of the genus Limacia O. F. Müller, 1781 (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Nudibranchia, Polyceridae) in the eastern Pacific. Marine Biodiversity, 18 pp. DOI 10.1007/s12526-017-0676-5. PDF
Synonyms 2
Laila cockerelli
Additional Info 2
Sources and Credits
- (c) Gary McDonald, all rights reserved, uploaded by Gary McDonald
- (c) Gary McDonald, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
iNat Map
| Body | doridiform |
|---|---|
| Dorsum | tuberculate |
| Classification | Doridina |
| Rhinophores | perfoliate |
| Labial tentacles | digitiform |
