Onchidoris bilamellata (Linnaeus, 1767)

Description: This nudibranch is usually white with a brown pattern on the mantle, however immature specimens and occasional adults may be all white. The mantle bears many club shaped papillae. The rhinophores are lamellate and the numerous gills are arranged in a horseshoe. Adults may attain a length of 40mm.

Habitat: This species is gregarious, and large numbers of individuals are often found feeding on barnacles on the low shore and sublittorally. The spawn is a short flat ribbon laid in a curve or concertina shape.

Distribution: Found all around the British Isles and northwards into the Arctic circle and to America. It reaches the southern limit of its distribution on the French Atlantic coast.

Key Identification Features:

• Grey animal with a brown pigment pattern and rounded tubercles.
• Numerous (up to 29) retractile gills in a horseshoe.

Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map:  download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)

Distribution Map from NBN: JNCC MNCR data - Grid map National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.