Peltodoris nobilis

Taxobox
name = "Peltodoris nobilis"

---

image_caption = "Peltodoris nobilis"
image_width = 200 px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Opisthobranchia
subordo = Nudibranchia
familia = Dorididae
genus = "Peltodoris"
species = "P. nobilis"
binomial = "Peltodoris nobilis"
binomial_authority = (MacFarland, 1905)

"Peltodoris nobilis", common names sea lemon, or the noble dorid, is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Dorididae.

This species was previously placed in the genus "Anisodoris" and was known for a long time as "Anisodoris nobilis". Subsequently it was known as "Diaulula nobilis".

This animal gives off a pleasant citrus smell when it is handled, and this (along with its yellow coloration) is what is responsible for the common name "sea lemon".

Distribution

This species occurs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Baja California. It eats sponges.

Description

This nudibranch is variable in color, from a very pale yellow through a rich yellow, to a rather dark orange. The gill rosette is tinged with white at the tips.

The dorsum is covered in tubercles. There are a number of dark spots on the dorsum, but never on the tubercles themselves. These dark spots can be more or less in number, depending on the individual.

This animal can grow to be as large as 200 mm, or nearly 8 inches in length.

References

Books

Behrens D.W. , 1980, "Pacific Coast Nudibranchs: a guide to the opisthobranchs of the northeastern Pacific", Sea Challenger Books, Washington

External links

* Sea Slug Forum, species fact sheet: [http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=anisnobi]
* Slug Site: [http://slugsite.us/bow/nudwk533.htm]