Dendronotus patricki

Dendronotus patricki
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Cladobranchia
Family: Dendronotidae
Genus: Dendronotus
Species:
D. patricki
Binomial name
Dendronotus patricki
Stout, N. G. Wilson & Valdés, 2011[1]

Dendronotus patricki is a species of sea slug, a dendronotid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Dendronotidae.[2]

Distribution

This species was described from a whalefall, a dead whale which was experimentally placed in Monterey Canyon, California at a depth of 1820 m (36°42′30″N 122°06′19″W / 36.70833°N 122.10528°W / 36.70833; -122.10528). It was also seen on video from an ROV at another whalefall in Santa Cruz Basin, 33°29′40″N 119°22′04″W / 33.49444°N 119.36778°W / 33.49444; -119.36778 at a depth of 1676 m.[1]

Description

Dendronotus patricki is a translucent species of Dendronotus with no surface markings and a reddish-brown hue to the body. It grows to at least 25 mm in length. There is a small amount of opaque white pigment at the tips of the dorsal appendages, velar appendages and rhinophore sheath papillae.[1]

Habitat

Dendronotus patricki was found crawling on a muddy seabed. Its stomach contents included structures thought to be nematocysts. It is possible that it feeds on burrowing cerianthid anemones as does Dendronotus iris.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Stout C.C., Wilson N.G. & Valdés A. (2011) A new species of deep-sea Dendronotus Alder & Hancock (Mollusca : Nudibranchia) from California, with an expanded phylogeny of the genus. Invertebrate Systematics 25(1): 60-69.
  2. ^ Bouchet, P. (2015). Dendronotus patricki. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-02-10.