Doto paulinae

Doto paulinae is a species of sea slug, a Dendronotid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Dotidae.

Doto paulinae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Dexiarchia
clade Cladobranchia
clade Dendronotida
Superfamily:
Tritonioidea
Family:
Dotidae
Genus:
Doto
Species:
D. paulinae
Binomial name
Doto paulinae

Distribution

This species was described from Genova, Italy in the Mediterranean Sea.

Description

The body of this dendronotid nudibranch is mostly transparent white in colour with cream coloured organs showing through the skin. There is a band of dark pigment along the midline of the back and extending into the inner surfaces of the rhinophore sheaths and a similar area of dark pigment on the inner faces of the cerata. Each ceratal tubercle is covered with a dark pigment patch, except for the elongate terminal tubercle which is transparent, showing white glandular bodies concentrated below the surface.

Ecology

Doto paulinae has been reported to feed on colonies of the hydroid, Obelia geniculata (family Campanulariidae).[2] Recent finds in France were of animals matching Trinchese's description but feeding on Aglaophenia.[3]

References
  1. Trinchese, S (1881): Aeolididae e famiglie affini del Porto di Genova. Part 2. Anatomia, Fisiologia, Embriologia delle Phyllobranchidae, Hermaeidae, Aeolididae, Proctonotidae, Dotonidae del Porto di Genova. Memorie della Classe di scienze fisiche, matematiche e naturali, serie 3 11(4 January), 1-142, Pls 1-80
  2. Schmekel, L. and Portmann, A., 1982. Opisthobranchia des Mittelmeeres. Nudibranchia und Saccoglossa. L. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 410 pages, 36 plates (18 in colour). Printed in German (some English sections).
  3. Rudman, W.B., 2006 (May 3) Doto paulinae Trinchese, 1881. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
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