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Image courtesy of Greg Jensen
Cowlitz Bay, Waldron Island, Washington. 45 ft depth; 8/9/17; mud bottom
Image courtesy of Greg Jensen
Dendronotus albopunctatus Robilliard 1972 Named by old buddy Gordon Robilliard for the white-spots covering the body. Gordy as I affectionately call him, described several species from the Pacific Northwest, while working at the Friday Harbor Lab of the University of Washington, including collaborating with Dr. Kikutaro Baba on the description of Aldisa cooperi. His other notables include Polycera tricolor and Dendronutus diversicolor (now D. albus). This dendronotid has a wide body, which is pale pink to red-brown, or yellowish-white with red-brown patches. There are tiny opaque white spots scattered over the entire body with larger white spots on the pale foot edge; an opaque white line runs along the edge of the foot and oral veil. There are 4-5 dorsolateral appendages and no lateral papillae on the rhinophore sheath. I have taken this description from the soon to be released Nudibranchs and Sea Slugs of the Eastern Pacific, which will include a discussion of similar species, each might be confused with and remarks necessary to explain any recent nomenclatural changes. In the case of Dendronotus albopunctatus, the "Similar species entry" suggests only one critter and reads "Dendronotus subramosus lacks the white line along the edge of the foot." This species reaches a size of 60 mm (2.4 in) and ranges from Northern British Columbia to southern Oregon. Habitat wise it can be found subtidally in sandy, muddy areas, from 12-40 m (40-131 ft) depth where it feeds on hydroids.
Sammamish, WA 98074 May., 2022 Send Dave email at davidwbehrens@gmail.com
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His books are available through Amazon, or better yet, his website (www.molamarine.com). Greg's camera equipment: Olympus EM-5 in Olympus housing and Sea & Sea YS-01 strobe; kit lens
Send Greg email at gjensen@uw.edu |
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