Atagema gibba Pruvot-Fol, 1951

Atagema gibba

Description: The body is chocolate brown in colour. The mantle bears numerous small white tubercles that form a reticulate pattern of ridges. The rhinophores have distinctive trumpet shaped sheaths. Grows to at least 68mm in length.

Habitat: A sponge eating dorid which has been found on steep rockfaces in about 8-15 metres depth. The exact diet is unknown. The spawn consists of a ruffled yellow ribbon of eggs deposited in a spiral of 11/2 turns.

Distribution: This species is rare and the only British records are from the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall and the east coast of St. Mary's in the Scilly Isles. There is also one record from Banyuls on the Mediterranean coast of France.

Key Identification Features:

• Brown dorid with ridge along centre of back
• Sheaths around the rhinophores
• Distinctive reticulate pattern of tubercles.

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