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Doto eireana

Doto eireana (Lemche, 1973)

Doto eireana by Bernard Picton

Taxonomy
 

Superdomain

Biota  

 

Kingdom

Animalia  

 

Phylum

Mollusca  

 

Class

Gastropoda  

 

Subclass

Heterobranchia  

 

Infraclass

Euthyneura  

 

Subterclass

Ringipleura  

 

Superorder

Nudipleura  

 

Order

Nudibranchia  

 

Suborder

Cladobranchia  

 

Superfamily

Dendronotoidea  

 

Family

Dotidae  

 

Genus

Doto  

 

Species

Doto eireana  Lemche, 1976

 
 Classification according to Bouchet et al. (2017)
Taxonomic source: World Register of Marine Species (AphiaID: 139635).
Description
Small-sized nudibranch, the specimens use to have a size smaller than 1 centimeter in length, the body is high with quadrangular section, coloured translucent white, with reddish brown spots scattered throughout the body, especially on the back and sides, and also in the tips of the tubercles of the cerata. The cerata are bulbous and have tubercles arranged in rows (usually two) just below the tip. It has oral tentacles in the anterior basal part of the body. Right behind them, in the dorsal part of the body, it has two tubular rhinophores that may have bright white spots that differ from the translucent color of the rest of the body. The lower part of the rhinophores is surrounded by a bell-shaped, high and narrow sheath.

Biology
Recently separated from the Doto coronata species, Doto eireana can be easily confused with similar species such as Doto dunnei or Doto maculata, but it can be identified by the substrate where it is found, as it feeds exclusively on the hydroid Amphisbetia operculata, that can be found in places with high hydrodynamism, such as rocks exposed to waves in the infralittoral zone or the stipe of the kelp Laminaria hyperborea. The spawn consists of a white accordion shaped ribbon deposited on the hydrarian it feeds on. The cerata can be detached easily if the animal feels in danger, although they can be quickly regenerated.

Etymology

  • Doto. From Latin “Doto”, from “Dōtō”, a sea nymph in Greek mythology.
  • Eireana. From “Eire”, Ireland.

Distribution
Its distribution range includes the west coast of Ireland, the west coast of Scotland, Wales, the Bristol Channel and the entire south of England, including the Isle of Wight. In the Iberian Peninsula has been reported from the Bay of Biscay, the coast of Galicia and Portugal. In Catalonia it has been found on the Costa Brava, between Blanes and l’Escala.

Known georeferenced records of the species: Doto eireana
Sources:
: OBIS
: GROC 2010-2011
: Enric Madrenas
: João Pedro Silva
: Bernard Picton
: GBIF.ORG		 : OPK
: VIMAR
: Manuel Ballesteros.
: M@re Nostrum
: Altres fonts
: Marine Regions

Similar species
Doto coronata, D. dunnei, D. millbayana i D. maculata, from which can be separated by the pigmentation, ceratal tubercules development, pseudobranch and feeding substrate.

Abundance

    Western Mediterranean: ★☆☆☆☆
    Eastern Mediterranean: ☆☆☆☆☆
    Atlantic Ocean: ★☆☆☆☆
Month

This chart displays the monthly observation probability for Doto eireana based on our own records.

More pictures

Doto eireana
Doto eireana
Doto eireana

Bibliography

    Ballesteros M. 1980. Contribución al conocimientos de los Sacoglosos y Nudibranquios (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia). Estudio anatómico, sistemático y faunístico de las especies del mediterráneo español. Tesis Doctoral. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona.
    Ballesteros M, Madrenas E, Pontes M. 2016. Actualización del catálogo de los moluscos opistobranquios (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) de las costas catalanas. Spira. 6:1–28.
    Ballesteros M, Pontes M, Madrenas E. 2019. Els nudibranquis del mar català. Figueres: Brau Edicions. 192 p.
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    Bibliography based on the works by Steve Long, 2006. Bibliography of Opisthobranchia 1554-2000 and Gary McDonald, 2009. Bibliographia Nudibranchia, with later updates from other resources.

Further reading

Cite this article as:

Fuertes, S., Ballesteros, M., Madrenas, E. & Pontes, M. (2012-2025) "Doto eireana" in OPK-Opistobranquis. Published: 16/04/2013. Accessed: 03/02/2025. Available at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/?p=7353)