Phidiana hiltoni

Taxobox
name = "Phidiana hiltoni"


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Heterobranchia
ordo = Opisthobranchia
subordo = Nudibranchia
superfamilia = Aeolidioidea
familia = Glaucidae
genus = "Phidiana"
species = "P. hiltoni"
binomial = "Phidiana hiltoni"
binomial_authority = O'Donoghue, 1927
synonyms =
*"Phidiana pugnax"
Lance, 1962

"Phidiana hiltoni" O'Donoghue, 1927, is a species of sea slug, an aolid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Glaucidae.

Distribution

This species has a rather narrow range of distribution, being found from the central California coast to Baja California, Mexico, and it is also found in the Gulf of Mexico.

Description

This nudibranch grows to 50 mm, or a little more than 2 inches in length. The reddish or brownish line across its head is almost always present, and is very characteristic of the species.

This species can be confused with Hermissenda crassicornis, which is superficially similar in appearance.

Life habits

This aolid nudibranch species is considered to be rather aggressive, often biting and fighting with other nudibranchs, including members of its own species.

References

Books

"Pacific Coast Nudibranchs", 1980, Dave Behrens, Sea Challenger Books, California

External links

* Sea Slug Forum factsheet: [http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall.cfm?base=phidhilt]
* Slug Site: [http://slugsite.us/bow/nudiwkps/nudiwk25.html]