Doto tuberculata

Terry Griffiths Hi all i think this is Doto tuberculata would like your input on this one as it's doing my head in.

Carissa Shipman I say yes to D. tuberculata. This photo matches the description in Bernard's field guide. Main giveaways to its identification are the black tubercles running along the back of this animal and the black terminal spots on the tubercles of the cerata. The anterior margin of the rhinophorial sheath also has a distinctive shape and is wider than its posterior side.

Brendan Oonk Doto tuberculata is not supposed to have a spot on the apical tubercle, which is present here.

Carissa Shipman in the original description of D. tuberculata, it says the apical tubercle rarely has a spot. What do you think Bernard Picton?

Bernard Picton I don't think this is Doto tuberculata. In that species there are raised tubercles on the body in a sparse line across, between the cerata. Often only four or less of these in a line, with black spots in the tip. My photo shows no black spot in the terminal tubercle of each ceras, as Brendan says. http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/photo.asp?item=dottub

Terry Griffiths Thank Bernard any Id for it ?

Bernard Picton On the other hand it doesn't match any named species exactly, though we do find Doto coronata type species with black markings apparently mixed with ones with red markings in some populations.

Terry Griffiths This is why it was doing my head in.

Bernard Picton Individual Doto not on their food are often not identifiable in my opinion. We might get there eventually, but by studying the variation in groups of animals which are feeding and mating together. So take plenty of photographs when you find them!!

Terry Griffiths Hi all i think this is Doto tuberculata would like your input on this one as it's doing my head in.

Carissa Shipman I say yes to D. tuberculata. This photo matches the description in Bernard's field guide. Main giveaways to its identification are the black tubercles running along the back of this animal and the black terminal spots on the tubercles of the cerata. The anterior margin of the rhinophorial sheath also has a distinctive shape and is wider than its posterior side.

Brendan Oonk Doto tuberculata is not supposed to have a spot on the apical tubercle, which is present here.

Carissa Shipman in the original description of D. tuberculata, it says the apical tubercle rarely has a spot. What do you think Bernard Picton?

Bernard Picton I don't think this is Doto tuberculata. In that species there are raised tubercles on the body in a sparse line across, between the cerata. Often only four or less of these in a line, with black spots in the tip. My photo shows no black spot in the terminal tubercle of each ceras, as Brendan says. http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/photo.asp?item=dottub

Terry Griffiths Thank Bernard any Id for it ?

Bernard Picton On the other hand it doesn't match any named species exactly, though we do find Doto coronata type species with black markings apparently mixed with ones with red markings in some populations.

Terry Griffiths This is why it was doing my head in.

Bernard Picton Individual Doto not on their food are often not identifiable in my opinion. We might get there eventually, but by studying the variation in groups of animals which are feeding and mating together. So take plenty of photographs when you find them!!

João Pedro Silva Doto are really hard to spot and sometimes even harder to identify. It's very important to also document the hydroid they're on. This Doto pinnatifida feeds exclusively on Nemertesia antennina. It cand be mistaken for Doto tuberculata but the later feeds on Sertularella gayi.