MOLLUSCA : NUDIBRANCHIA : Tritoniidae | SNAILS, SLUGS, ETC. |
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Duvaucelia plebeia |
Description: Synonym: Tritonia plebeia
This inconspicuous nudibranch is pale yellow with extensive greenish-brown mottling. Usually there are two patches of darker pigment behind the rhinophores. It has six finger-like processes on its oral veil and up to six pairs of arborescent lateral gills. Adults vary in length from approximately 16-30mm.
Habitat: Duvaucelia plebeia feeds on the soft coral Alcyonium digitatum and is usually found hiding at the base of the colony or amongst bryozoan undergrowth nearby. The spawn is a string laid in a convoluted coil, usually on rock at the base of Alcyonium colonies.
Distribution: This species is frequent all round the British Isles. It reaches its northern limit at Norway and its southern limit at Portugal.
Similar Species: Duvaucelia plebeia is similar in appearance to Duvaucelia manicata but not as slender as that species and much darker in colour.
Key Identification Features:
Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.
WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.
iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database
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Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Duvaucelia plebeia (Johnston, 1828). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=W12460 Accessed on 2025-02-15 |
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