Doto paulinae is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Dotidae.

Doto paulinae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Cladobranchia
Family: Dotidae
Genus: Doto
Species:
D. paulinae
Binomial name
Doto paulinae

Distribution

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This species was described from Genova, Italy in the Mediterranean Sea.

Description

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The body of this nudibranch is mostly transparent white in colour with cream coloured organs showing through the skin. There is a band of dark pigment along the midline of the back and extending into the inner surfaces of the rhinophore sheaths and a similar area of dark pigment on the inner faces of the cerata. Each ceratal tubercle is covered with a dark pigment patch, except for the elongate terminal tubercle which is transparent, showing white glandular bodies concentrated below the surface.

Ecology

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Doto paulinae has been reported to feed on colonies of the hydroid, Obelia geniculata (family Campanulariidae).[2] Recent finds in France were of animals matching Trinchese's description but feeding on Aglaophenia.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Trinchese, S (1881): Aeolididae e famiglie affini del Porto di Genova. Part 2. Anatomia, Fisiologia, Embriologia delle Phyllobranchidae, Hermaeidae, Aeolididae, Proctonotidae, Dotonidae del Porto di Genova. Memorie della Classe di scienze fisiche, matematiche e naturali, serie 3 11(4 January), 1-142, Pls 1-80
  2. ^ Schmekel, L. and Portmann, A., 1982. Opisthobranchia des Mittelmeeres. Nudibranchia und Saccoglossa. L. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 410 pages, 36 plates (18 in colour). Printed in German (some English sections).
  3. ^ Rudman, W.B., 2006 (May 3) Doto paulinae Trinchese, 1881. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.