Body
Up to 17mm long. Ample mantle covers whole body. Usually yellow (EML) or yellow-orange, but can be pure white [2], especially in northern Scotland. Usually no surface pigment. Club-shape, or ellipsoid, tubercles [2] with obtusely pointed apex.
Rhinophores
Apex truncated. Up to 18 front-parted oblique lamellae [4] on 14mm long animal, occasionally 19 on larger specimens. About 12 lamellae on 8mm specimens. Colour as mantle, but often a darker shade on yellow specimens, and yellowish white on white specimens.
Gills
Up to 12 translucent gills (EML) coloured as mantle, arranged in a horseshoe around the anus.
Head
Large oral veil with large oral orifice.
Foot
Sole translucent, coloured as mantle, showing purplish liver. Anterior of foot slightly truncated with grooved edge, not indented by mouth. Usually completely concealed dorsally by mantle, but posterior tip may sometimes protrude.
On lower shore and sublittorally to 60m. Feeds on wide variety of polyzoans, including Electra pilosa [EML] (often on Fucus serratus), Membranipora membranacea [EML] (often on Laminaria), Flustrellidra hispida [MeL] and Alcyonidium polyoum. Simultaneous hermaphrodite. Cream coloured spiral ribbon of spawn laid February to May. Adults die after spawning so inconspuous until next generation grows. Veliger larvae before transforming into adult form.
Arctic to Bristol Channel and Massachusetts.( GBIF map). Common and widespread in northern Britain. Records south of Bristol Channel are probably misidentifications of Onchidoris muricata. (UK interactive distribution map. NBN).
Adalaria proxima
The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data held by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN). See terms and conditions.
The following datasets are included:
- Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland: marine mollusc records
Open an NBN Atlas interactive map of this data in a new window.
Alder, J. & Hancock, A. 1845-1855. A monograph of the British nudibranchiate mollusca. London, Ray Society.
Thompson, T.E. & Brown, G.H. 1984. Biology of opisthobranch molluscs 2. London, Ray Society.
Irish distribution map and prey organisms:
Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C., 2010. Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland (EML).
Taxon details available from MolluscaBase (AphiaID 140629):
Adalaria proxima (Alder & Hancock, 1854)
The UK NBN Atlas entry for the species can be accessed via this link.