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| Domain |
Eukarya |
| Kingdom |
Animalia |
| Phylum |
Mollusca |
| Class |
Gastropoda |
| Subclass |
Opisthobranchia |
| Order |
Nudibranchia |
| Family |
Dendronotidae |
| Genus |
Dendronotus |
| Species |
albus |
| Common Name: |
White dendronotus |
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Physical description:
As the ‘albus’ definition says, Dendronotus albus has a translucent white body. The end of its cerata (four to eight pairs) is either orange or yellow and it also has a white line going down through the body. The longest it could be is 40 mm and the smallest is 15 mm.
Global distribution:
We can find this species from the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska to the Los Corandos, Baja California.
Habitat:
Usually, they live on kelp or in rocky pools. They are rare during the summer in the south and we can find them in the low intertidial zone. However, they are more common during fall and winter in the north and we find them in the current-swept areas.
Feeding:
Nudibranchs are considered as grazing carnivores and the Dendronotus albus specific species feed on hydroids (Tubularia, Plumularia, Abientinaria spp. and Sertularella) that they usually find at 30m depth in rocky pools.
Predators:
We do not know many things about nudibranch’s predators but an interesting fact is that it can prey on other species of nudibranchs.
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Reproduction:
Dendronotus albus, like all the other nudibranchs, is a hermaphrodite species. The eggs are layed either on or close to the organism that they feed on. It will take 5 to 50 days to the eggs development and they will first develop in a larval form called a veliger. The warmer the water, the shorter will be the development process.
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Interesting facts:
The adult nudibranch cannot swim long distances and they move very slowly.
The Dendronotus diversicolor is different species than the Dendronotus albus but it is sometimes impossible to distinguish them.
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References:
1. Ashman, K and R. Ashman. California Digital Diving. Retrieved 13 November 2005 from http://www.caldigitaldiving.com/gallery.php
2. Miller, M.D. 2001. Nudibranch of the week is Dendronotus albus. Retrieved 13 November 2005 from http://slugsite.us/bow/nudwk280.htm
3. Morris, R.H., D. P. Abbott and E.C. Haderlie. 1980. Intertidal invertebrates of California. Stanford University Press, Stanford. pp. 332-333.
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Date:
2005
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Name: Amélie Babcock, Québec Year 32
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