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Dendrodoris elongata
Images courtesy of Micael MillerAnilao, Batangas, Philippines
Screen Grab from Video
Dendrodoris elongata Baba, 1936
D. elongata is a member of the "radula-less dorids" group called Porostomata. They feed by secreting digestive enzymes into sponges and sucking the partially digested tissue. Dendrodorids have a prominent gill on the back. Porostomata are cryptobranch dorids since they have a cavity into which the gill can be retracted. Members of the family Dendrodorididae are externally indistinguishable from other cryptobranch dorids, except for that the oral tentacles are reduced and fused together, giving the appearance that there are no oral tentacles. Species of Dendrodoris have a soft body and have spicules only as juveniles. Internally, they have a distinct type of digestive gland to aid in dissolving sponge tissue. Many species have a characteristic spicy taste derived from drimane sesquiterpenoids that the nudibranchs synthesize independently from their food source and store in their mantle for defense.
Dendrodoris elongata is unusual in having a highly elongated body with the gill situated near the posterior end of the animal. Additionally, this species can greatly extend their bodies making them extremely long.
This species is translucent white with irregular brown and whitish stellate markings of varying sizes, and has small tubercles on the surface of the body. They are found under rocks on shallow reefs in 1-5 m, throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Dave Behrens
New Braunfels, TX
Jul., 2023
Send Dave email at davidwbehrens@gmail.com
Washington to Texas
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From May 10th to the 20th of May, I was fortunate to be a participant in what was billed as "THE FIFTH CITIZEN SCIENTIST NUDIBRANCH WORKSHOP " held at the Crystal Blue Dive Resort, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines. The event was hosted by moderator Dr. Terry Gosliner of the California Academy of Sciences. Jim Anderson from Scotland filled in as the data analyst compiling the many and I mean many images taken by the group on a day to day basis. Mike Bartick the GM at Crystal Blue Resort took care of logistics and made sure all participants left with fond memories! More to come on this event in the coming weeks! Michael Miller |
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