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Aeolidiella sanguinea

(Norman, 1877)


Chris Wood One of our Seasearchers from Sussex has sent this picture in for ID. In view of the cnidosacs is it Aeolidiella alderi (which doesn't seem to be recorded from the area) or a buff coloured version of Aeolidiella sanguinea, which I see from the NBN that Dawn Watson has recorded from North Norfolk - what colour were those ones? Habitiat is right for either with snakelocks and daisies around to eat

Richard Lord Do you know their size?

Phillip Hyden Stunning

Ian Smith From wide gap between oral tentacles and slightly laterally compressed "willow leaf" cerata I'd say one of Aeolidia papillosa agg. As Richard asks, what's the size?

David Kipling I'd agree it's not A. alderi. The cerata are more rounded as opposed to the more flattened ones here (as Ian says). The white ruff on alderi is also very prominent. Let me go dig out a photo of alderi for you Chris.

Chris Wood Certainly there isn't a white ruff on these so not A. alderi. Size to judge from the habitat is 6-10cm and A, papillosa would occur in the area but the presence of white cnidosacs on the end of the cerata was leading me to think it might be something else.

Bernard Picton Lucas CerCur, Leila CB, you might like to comment on the Aeolidia papillosa situation?

Leila CB That's an Aeolidia, not Aeolidiella... and it looks like one of the new species, could you please Chris Wood tell me where's it from?

Chris Wood Selsey, Sussex, shallow sublittoral

Ian Smith Chris 6-10cm is far too big for Aeolidiella. As David's given a link to alderi, here's one to sanguinea, check out the key features and similar spp. bullet points. http://www.conchsoc.org/spAccount/aeolidiella-sanguinea

Leila CB thanks Chris Wood for the information!! it'll awesome if next time you see it, you collect some for me... :)

Leila CB Actually, as Lucas CerCur said, we're trying to complete the range of distribution of this complex of species, so any help is very welcome :)

Justin Evans These are very common in the waters off Selsey at this time of year, often occurring in groups of 4-6 at depths of 1 to 6m. More photos of them in Mulberry Divers FB postings at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.572460712785116.1073741845.213955105302347&type=1, and https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=572042549493599&set=a.572042486160272.1073741844.213955105302347&type=1&relevant_count=2, and

Neil Watson These two had eggs next to them on the dive, not sure if that was by chance or not. They were about 6-8cm big, in water about 4-5m deep.

Message posted on Seasearch Identifications on 20 May 2013
George Brown Is this Aeolidiella sanguinea? Eilean nan Ron on Scotland's north coast. Found crawling across the top of a rock pinnacle on the islands west coast.

João Pedro Silva Actually I'd suggest a colour variation of Eubranchus farrani.

João Pedro Silva Aeolidiella sanguinea: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/6974166731/

George Brown Thank you João. Makes sense. I've not seen one that colour.

João Pedro Silva Eubranchus farrani here usually has translucent white body but it varies a lot. A. sanguinea has a different body shape, thinner and denser cerata and white tips of the cerata.

George Brown Thanks again João. I see what you mean from your excellent photos.

Andy Horton http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall/aeolsang

Message posted on NE Atlantic Nudibranchs on 14 Apr 2013
George Brown Is this Aeolidiella sanguinea? Eilean nan Ron on Scotland's north coast. Found crawling across the top of a rock pinnacle on the islands west coast.

João Pedro Silva Actually I'd suggest a colour variation of Eubranchus farrani.

João Pedro Silva Aeolidiella sanguinea: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/6974166731/

George Brown Thank you João. Makes sense. I've not seen one that colour.

João Pedro Silva Eubranchus farrani here usually has translucent white body but it varies a lot. A. sanguinea has a different body shape, thinner and denser cerata and white tips of the cerata.

George Brown Thanks again João. I see what you mean from your excellent photos.

Andy Horton http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall/aeolsang

Message posted on NE Atlantic Nudibranchs on 14 Apr 2013
Manuel Martínez Chacón ¿Me ayudais a identificar este nudibranquio?

João Pedro Silva Aeolidiella alderi

Encarni Sánchez Castillo Spurilla neapolitana?

Encarni Sánchez Castillo Aeolidiella alderi era el otro que tenía en mente

João Pedro Silva Não é Spurilla neapolitana, tenho a certeza. Trata-se de Aeolidiella alderi: típico primeiro grupo de cerata com cnidosacos alongados que lhe dão um aspecto de "gola" ou "juba".

João Pedro Silva http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/6828070676/

Manuel Martínez Chacón Me queda claro, Aeolidiella alderi, muchas gracias.

Encarni Sánchez Castillo Pues rectifico en mi foto. Thanks ; )

João Pedro Silva Eventualmente poderá confundir-se esta espécie com Aeolidiella sanguinea ou com Aeolidiella glauca. Spurilla neapolitana é muito distinta, com cerata em grupos melhor definidos e os rinóforos não são lisos como em Aeolidiella spp.: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsilva1971/6751672883/

Message posted on Nudibranquios on 05 Oct 2013
João Pedro Silva Closeup of Aeolidiella sanguinea from Alpertuche, Arrábida, Portugal. Rhinophores are smooth. ID was confirmed by Lucas Cervera.

Christian Skauge Thanks Joao - that's what I was wondering about. The I think it's safe to say that ours is not an Aeolidiella sp. Berghia is looking more and more plausible...

João Pedro Silva Agree, Christian.

Message posted on NE Atlantic Nudibranchs on 10 Feb 2012
João Pedro Silva Aeolidiella sanguinea Local: Tróia, Portugal Profundidade: intertidal Data: 11-03-2012

Message posted on Nudibranquios on 27 Aug 2013
Taxonomy
Animalia (Kingdom)
  Mollusca (Phylum)
    Gastropoda (Class)
      Heterobranchia (Subclass)
        Opisthobranchia (Infraclass)
          Nudibranchia (Order)
            Dexiarchia (Suborder)
              Aeolidida (Infraorder)
                Aeolidioidea (Superfamily)
                  Aeolidiidae (Family)
                    Aeolidiella (Genus)
                      Aeolidiella sanguinea (Species)
Associated Species