Dendronotus diversicolor Robilliard, 1970

Common name(s): 
Synonyms:
Phylum Mollusca
 Class Gastropoda
   Subclass Opisthobranchia
    Order Nudibranchia
      Suborder Dendronotacea
        Family Dendronotidae
(Dendronotus diversicolor found on a hydroid at 20 m depth at Sares Head). Animal's head is to right
(Photo by: Dave Cowles, 18-97).  About 4 cm long
Description:  Dendronotids have the anus on an inconspicuous papilla in the anterior half of the right side of the dorsum, usually among the cerata.  They have fanlike branched cerata on the dorsum, which are usually numerous and in transverse rows.  The clavus of the rhinophores is not retractile into a sheath.  D. diversicolor has a slender, sluglike body with 4 (occasionally 5) pairs of bushy cerata in longitudinal rows, no oral hood, large, prominent rhinophores with a perfoliate clavus and a sheath drawn out into 4-10 papillae that make it look crownlike; oral veil only slightly overhangs the mouth but has many oral papillae on its anterolateral third, no white line around the margin of the foot, body lilac colored or translucent white with white or orange tips on the cerata.  Has a dorsomedial white line from the tip of the tail to the posteriormost pair of cerata.  Up to 7 cm long

How to Distinguish from Similar Species:  Is quite similar to D. albus which has 4-8 pair of cerata and the dorsomedial white line extending up to the 4th to 2nd pairs of cerata

Geographical Range: Vancouver Island, Canada to Pismo Beach, CA

Depth Range:_

Habitat: Hydroids

Biology/Natural History: This species feeds on hydroids, including Sertularella tricuspidata and Abietinaria spp


 
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References:

Dichotomous Keys:
Kozloff 1987, 1996
 

General References:
Morris et al, 1980

Scientific Articles:
 


General Notes and Observations:  Locations, abundances, unusual behaviors:

Another view of the species.  Photo by Dave Cowles 1997


Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2005):  Created original page