Opisthobranchs: species observed

Aeolidia papillosa

	Shaggy Mouse Nudibranch	Description: Pink to gray to white body with numerous grayish
		brown cerata covering all but the center of the dorsal surface.

		Size: To 60 mm.

		Natural History: Intertidal to 671 m. On protected rocky and
		sandy shores and in eel grass. Feeds on anemones.

		Range: Alaska to southern California.

		Location of Observation: Fox Island.






Archidoris montereyensis

	Monterey Dorid	Description: Yellow body with black spots. Spots are not restricted
		to the dorsum and extend to some of the tubercles. Spots are
		randomly distributed and of various size. Branchial plume is grayish-
		yellow.

		Size: To 150 mm.

		Natural History: Rocky intertidal to 50 m. Feeds on the sponge
		Halichondia and others.

		Range: Alaska to San Diego, California.

		Location of Observation: Argyle Creek and Tongue Point.




Cadlina luteomarginata

	Yellow-Edged Nudibranch	Description: Bright white body with bright lemon-yellow margin.
		Tubercule are also tipped with yellow, sometimes forming a spoted
		ring just inside of the margin. Rhinophores are white.

		Size: To 45 mm.

		Natural History:Rocky intertidal to 45 m. Feeds on several
		species of sponge.

		Range: Alaska to Point Eugenia, Mexico.

		Location of Observation: Friday Harbor.





Dendronotus subramosus

	No Common Name	Description: Variable color ranging from cream to green to brown
		with two pairs of light brown lines running along the body from
		rhinophores to tail. Has six pairs of tufted gills.

		Size: To 33 mm.

		Natural History: Feeds exclusively on Aglaophenia, a feather
		hydroid. We found one example in an eel grass filled tide pool.

		Range: Vancouver Island to Baja California.

		Location of Observation: Sokal Point.





Diaulula sandiegensis

	Ringed or Leopard Nudibranch	Description: Light brown or gray to white with light to dark brown
		spots or rings. Spots are randomly distributed and of various size.
		Branchial plume is tripinnate.

		Size: To 100 mm.

		Natural History: Feels on the sponge species Halichondria and
		Haliclona. Rocky intertidal to 35 m.

		Range: Alaska to Baja California.

		Location of Observation: Tongue Point.

Dirona albolineata

	Frosted or White-Lined Nudibranch	Description: White to gray to pink translucent body. Cerata are
		large, full, and leaf-like and edged in white.

		Size: To 180 mm.

		Natural History: Rocky intertidal to 35 m. Feeds on anemones,
		ascidians, hydroids, bryozoans, and snails- which it eats by cracking
		the shell open with its jaws.

		Range: Alaska to San Diego, California.

		Location of Observation: Friday Harbor.





Haminoea vesicula

	White Bubble Shell	Description: Visible shell covered by a translucent brown to
		yellow speckled periostracum; body is semi-translucent light brown
		with brown to yellow speckles.

		Size: To 24 mm.

		Natural History: Restricted to the intertidal areas of bays; on and
		just below surface of muddy to sandy sediment and among eel grass.
		Lays eggs on sandy bottom shores in July.

		Range: Alaska to the Gulf of California.

		Location of Observation: False Bay and Fox Island.

Hermissenda crassicornis

	Opalescent Nudibranch	Description: White to yellow translucent body with blue, orange,
		and white stripes. Cerata are pink to orange to brown and end with
		orange bands and white tips. Rhinophores are horn-like.

		Size: To 50 mm.

		Natural History: Intertidal to 35 m. In eel grass beds, docks,
		rocky shorelines, and mud flats. Feeds on hydroids, anemones,
		ascidians, mullusks, and other aeolids.

		Range: Alaska to Baja California.

		Location of Observation: Cattle Point, Friday Harbor, and
		Fox Island.

Onchidella borealis

	Leather Limpet	Description: Black to gray to brown body, most often mottled.
		Bumpy dorsal surface. Pear shaped body resembling a limpet.

		Size: To 15 mm.

		Natural History: Low rocky intertidal, on seaweed and rocks.

		Range: Alaska to northern California.

		Location of Observation: Fox Island and Tongue Point.

Onchidoris bilamellata

	Barnacle-Eating Dorid	Description: Multicolored patterned body in dark brown, cream,
		and tan. Tubercles are club-shaped and branchial plume is short and
		forms a semicircle.

		Size: To 20 mm.

		Natural History: Intertidal to shallow subtidal. Rocky shoreline to
		muddy substrate. Feeds on barnacles and encrusting
		bryozoans.

		Range: Alaska to Baja California.


		Location of Observation: Fox Island.


Rostanga pulchra

	Red Nudibranch	Description: Bright scarlet red body, branchial plume, and
		rhinophores. Branchial plume is short and forms a circle.

		Size: To 30 mm.

		Natural History: Rocky intertidal to 30 m. On or near the red
		sponges on which it feeds- Acarnus, Plocamia, Esperiopsis, and
		Ophlitaspongia. Its color, and that of its eggs, is derived from that
		of its prey.

		Range: Alaska to southern California.

		Location of Observation: Cattle Point and Fox Island.




Triopha catalinae

	Orange-Spotted or Clown Nudibranch	Description: White translucent body with bright orange tubercles.
		Rhinophores, frontal veil, and branchial plume are white and tipped
		with orange to red.

		Size: To 150 mm.

		Natural History: Intertidal to 30 m. Most often in rocky areas with
		tide pools. Feeds on bryozoans.

		Range: Alaska to Baja California; Japan.

		Location of Observation: Friday Harbor and Tongue Point.

Melibe leonina

	Hooded Nudibranch	Description: Yellow-tinged to green-tinged white transparent
		body. Cerata are large, flat, and lobe-shaped and the digestive organ
		is visible within them. Has a large oral hood with tentacle fringe.

		Size: To 100 mm.

		Natural History: Intertidal to shallow subtidal. Feeds on
		small crustaceans and hood is used for capturing prey.

		Range: Alaska to Baja California.

		Location of Observation: Friday Harbor.