(Montagu, 1804)

Description:
The body of this strikingly beautiful nudibranch may reach 26 mm in length. The oral tentacles and rhinophores are white, suffused with lemon-yellow. Opaque white epidermal pigment often forms an indistinct streak running from the head to the posterior tip of the foot (dividing to pass on either side of the pericardium). The most vivid and diagnostic features are associated with the cerata. These are set in up to twelve rows (usually 8-10), with up to eight (usually six) cerata per row. Variation in the colour of the hepatic lobe within each ceras and in the pigmentation of the ceratal epidermis bring about a wide morphological range. The hepatic lobe may be almost black, various shades of blue or bright green. The epidermal pigment consists maximally of three bands of colour: (a) a subterminal red, orange or yellow band fading towards the colourless tip is invariably present; (b) usually, a blue, turquoise or green band encircles the ceras below this (sometimes completely absent); (c) a lower band, similar to (a) but less vivid. The cerata are usually stout, but this is a variable feature.

Habitat:
This species feeds upon the hydroids Sertularella polyzonias , S. gayi , Halecium halecinum and Hydrallmania falcata . Mediterranean specimens have been recorded feeding on Eudendrium .

Distribution:
It is known from the Mediterranean Sea (to Naples), Portugal and France to southern Norway, to 270 m (Distr. C. caerulea). It also occurs on the American coast.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Subclass Opisthobranchia
Order Nudibranchia
Suborder Aeolidiina
Family Tergipedidae
Genus Cuthona
Species Cuthona caerulea

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Cuthona caerulea (Montagu, 1804)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Doris caerulea Montagu, 1804
Cuthona caerulea Bergh, 1822
Montagua caerulea; Fleming, 1822
Eolidia bassi Vérany, 1846
Eolis glotensis Alder & Hancock, 1846
Eolis deaurata Dalyell, 1853
Eolis glottensis Alder & Hancock, 1854
Cratena caerulea; Bergh, 1864
Cavolina caerulea; Alder, 1869
Cavolina glottensis; Alder, 1869
Amphorina caerulea; Trinchese, 1879
Trinchesia caerulea; lhering, 1879
Eolis molios Herdman, 1881
Cratena glotensis; Winckworth, 1932
Trinchesia glotensis; Winckworth, 1951
Trinchesia glottensis; Pruvot-Fol, 1954
Cuthona caerulea (Montagu, 1804): Picton, 1995

Hayward, P.J., Wigham, G.D. & N. Yonow, 1990. Mollusca I: Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, and Gastropoda. In: The Marine Fauna of the British Isles and North-West Europe. (ed. P.J. Hayward & J.S. Ryland). Clarendon Press, Oxford: 628-730.

Seaward, D.R., 1990. Distribution of the marine molluscs of north west Europe. Nature Conservancy Council.

Thompson, T.E. & G.H. Brown, 1976/1984. Biology of Opisthobranch Molluscs, volume I and II. Ray Society. London.

Thompson, T.E., 1988. Molluscs: Benthic Opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Synopses of the British fauna (NS), 8: 1-356.

You can continue searching for Cuthona caerulea on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

Google | Yahoo | MSN | Wikipedia