Description ²

Ground color varies from light yellow to deep orange-yellow. Dorsum with numerous low, rounded tubercles. Dorsum bears many irregular blotches of brown to black which do not extend up onto the tubercles. Rhinophores yellow to yellow-orange, with 18-24 lamellae. Branchial plumes 6, tri- and quadripinnate, greyish-white, tipped with opaque white. May be distinguished from the similar Doris montereyensis which has 7 yellow to orange branchial plumes, and in which the brown to black pigment on the dorsum does not extend up onto the tubercles. Labial tentacles digitiform.

Size ²

Typically 35mm in length, but may exceed 200mm.

Geographic Range ²

Alaska, to Islas Coronado, Mexico.

Notes ²

Feeds on several species of sponges such as: Acanthancora cyanocrypta, Halichondria panicea, Haliclona permollis,Lissodendoryx firma, Mycale spp., Myxilla spp., Paresperella psila, & Zygherpe hyaloderma.

References ²

BLOOM, S. A., & . F. BLOOM. 1977. Radular variation in two species of sponge-rasping dorid nudibranchs. Journal of Molluscan Studies 43(3):296-300.

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

VALDÉS, Á. 2002c. A phylogenetic analysis and systematic revision of the cryptobranch dorids (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Anthobranchia). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 136(4):535-636. PDF

Synonyms ²

Anisodoris nobilis, Montereina nobilis.

Additional Info ²

WoRMS

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Gary McDonald, all rights reserved, uploaded by Gary McDonald
2. (c) Gary McDonald, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

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