Jorunna tomentosa
<p><em>Jorunna tomentosa</em> (Cuvier, 1804)</p>
Jorunna tomentosa
Southern half of Norway and Faeroes to Adriatic. (GBIF map).
Widespread round Britain and Ireland, but rarely common in one place. (UKinteractive distribution map. NBN.)
Records from Pacific and Africa are probably of other spp. of similar appearance.
On lower shore and sublittoral fringe. Well camouflaged on prey; Halichondria panicea (EML) and Haliclona spp. ( EML & EML) Simultaneous hermaphrodite. Spawn, February – August in Britain, a spiral ribbon attached by its edge in a tight coil to substrate or food (EML). Planktonic veliger larvae for about three weeks before transforming into adult form.
- Up to 120mm long, half grown ones similar size to Jorunna tomentosa.
- Mantle usually yellow or buff-orange, often with large blotches of bright colours [3Ap].
- Variously sized spiculose tubercles give stiff unyielding feel to mantle.
- Gills often blotched with colour.
- Gills tilt backwards, not upwards from a raised collar.
- Underside of mantle lacks dark markings (may have slight staining at edge) [4Ap].
- Head small with vestigal oral tentacles.
- Up to 60mm long, similar size to many Archidoris pseudoargus.
- Sandy [1], buff, whitish (Flickr) or bluish white (Flickr), any other marks small and dark.
- Very small tubercles; velvety appearance, soft feel.
- Large pale gills around dark brown anus [1].
- Base of extended gills surrounded by raised collar [2].
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.
Current taxonomy: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS).
Irish distribution map and prey organisms:
Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C., 2010. Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland (EML).
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