01 Doris ocelligera

Largest specimen among over 100 found at many sites over two years in Croatia; 13 mm at normal extension, 15 mm at extreme extension. Dark tubercles with fine black apices.

Sublittoral 0.6 m. Split, Croatia. August 2012. © J. Prkić.

Full SPECIES DESCRIPTION BELOW

PDF available at www.researchgate.net/publication/366988260_Doris_ocellige...

Sets of OTHER SPECIES at: www.flickr.com/photos/56388191@N08/collections/

 

Doris ocelligera (Bergh, 1881)

Authors: Jakov Prkić (images & text) and Ian F. Smith (text).

 

Synonyms: Staurodoris ocelligera Bergh, 1881; Aldisa berghi Vayssière, 1901.

Current taxonomy: World Register of Marine Species www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=139620

 

GLOSSARY BELOW

 

Preface

This account is based on the original description of specimens from Trieste in Bergh (1881), Schmekel & Portmann (1982) and on detailed study by J.P. of over 100 specimens in Croatia at sites 130 to 300 km from Trieste.

Atlantic finds differ from those in the Mediterranean and have now been recognised as Doris berghi see the ‘Key Features’ section below.

 

Description

Mature adults are usually 6 mm to 12 mm long, with 15 mm maximum. Individual length varies with extension; a 13 mm specimen can become 15 mm at extreme extension fig. 01 flic.kr/p/2o8Nduc . Very rarely a specimen is found with an extreme maximum length of 20 mm when extended fig. 59 flic.kr/p/2o8NLE4 & fig. 60 flic.kr/p/2o8NLBd . Reports of 25 mm may be errors of estimation, identification or confusion. For example, the same image is shown as 25 mm at www.seaslugforum.net/find/doriocel and 15 mm at www.medslugs.de/E/Med/Doris_ocelligera/Doris_ocelligera_0... (accessed 16 December 2022).

The body varies from a depressed, very broad ellipse to a high, narrow, attenuated ellipse with almost parallel sides fig. 02 flic.kr/p/2o8TvVC . The mantle is usually a dull or dark shade of brown, green or ochre fig. 03 flic.kr/p/2o8TvUv but, occasionally, bright yellow, bright orange-yellow fig. 04 flic.kr/p/2o8SDTh , black-grey fig. 05 flic.kr/p/2o8TXVr or blue-grey fig. 06 flic.kr/p/2o8SDLy are locally common. Usually the notum is darkest at the centre, but occasionally there are darker dorsolateral bands fig. 07 flic.kr/p/2o8SDKb . The mantle often has fine black-brown specks fig. 08 flic.kr/p/2o8SDD4 .

The mantle is covered by well-spaced, spiculose tubercles, variable in number and size with shape ranging from low rounded fig. 09 flic.kr/p/2o8TvCo to conical with obtuse tip fig. 10 flic.kr/p/2o8TvyL , but always widest at base. Often, some tubercles are inflated; the proportion varies from none fig. 08 flic.kr/p/2o8SDD4 to almost all fig. 07 flic.kr/p/2o8SDKb . Those with many inflated tubercles (rare) could be confused with small D. verrucosa. The tubercles are usually darker than the mantle fig. 01 flic.kr/p/2o8Nduc and/or have a dark apical spot giving the mantle an ocellated appearance fig. 11 flic.kr/p/2o8TXDE . The number of tubercles with dark apices varies from very few fig. 12 flic.kr/p/2o8TXCx to almost all fig. 11 flic.kr/p/2o8TXDE . Tubercles lacking dark pigment may be concolorous with the mantle. Detritus often adheres to tubercles.

There are up to twenty short, irregularly arranged, spicules in large tubercles fig. 13 flic.kr/p/2o8NMUZ . Seen under magnification in good light, some spicules may protrude from the tubercles fig. 14 flic.kr/p/2o8SDxN ; protrusion varies with the condition of the specimen. A few tubercle-spicules may be much longer than others. Long spicules in the mantle radiate from the base of tubercles and meet others, often giving a quilted appearance to the mantle fig. 03 flic.kr/p/2o8TvUv . Spicules are usually visible in the translucent underside of the mantle fig. 15 flic.kr/p/2o8SDwA .

The rhinophores have translucent pure-white fig. 03 flic.kr/p/2o8TvUv to yellowish-white fig. 16 flic.kr/p/2o8NMSe lamellae which strongly contrast with the frequently dull or dark mantle. There are two large spatulate guard-tubercles on the rim of the rhinophore pit fig. 09 flic.kr/p/2o8TvCo . They have a smooth inner face, and curved outer face, often with projecting spicules fig. 14 flic.kr/p/2o8SDxN . The rim of the rhinophore-pit is often raised into collar connecting the guard-tubercles and, sometimes, merging with and obscuring them fig. 17 flic.kr/p/2o8SDug . The collar can sometimes extend into a tubular sheath fig. 18 flic.kr/p/2o8TvrG .

There are seven to ten lamellae on the distal two thirds of a fully extended rhinophore. The stem is smooth, transparent and colourless fig. 19 flic.kr/p/2o8TXvP , but very often appears tinted when the enclosing tubular sheath is translucent fig. 11 flic.kr/p/2o8TXDE & fig. 20 flic.kr/p/2o8NMMK . The stem is often retracted, leaving only the lamellae exposed fig. 21 flic.kr/p/2o8Tvph . When the entire rhinophore retracts, the guard-tubercles may close over it fig. 14 flic.kr/p/2o8SDxN .

The unipinnate gills fig. 10 flic.kr/p/2o8TvyL are usually tilted backwards fig. 09 flic.kr/p/2o8TvCo ; there are nine or ten on adults fig. 22 flic.kr/p/2o8SDqo and six to eight on smaller individuals. The posterior gills are usually smaller than the anterior ones. They are translucent with fine black-brown specks. Their colour varies with the density and extent of the specks, from much darker than the mantle fig. 09 flic.kr/p/2o8TvCo to, occasionally, concolorous fig. 12 flic.kr/p/2o8TXCx or lighter fig. 06 flic.kr/p/2o8SDLy . Sometimes, there is a dark line on the main rib of each plume which meets others at the central anus fig. 23 flic.kr/p/2o8NMKk . The branchial pocket is surrounded by a collar carrying about one spatulate guard-tubercle per plume fig. 24 flic.kr/p/2o8RhrU ; often about half of the tubercles are noticeably larger than the others. When the gills retract, the collar with tubercles may extend upwards to form a sheath around them. The guard-tubercles have a flat, smooth, inner face and slightly rounded, spiculose, outer face.

The head has a very variable oral-lobe on each side of the mouth fig. 25 flic.kr/p/2o8SDnH . The lobes have a cavity distally, but it is often difficult to discern. The mouth is usually concealed in a groove between the oral lobes but, when everted, it is a large, thick-rimmed circle.

When in motion, the foot protrudes beyond the posterior edge of the mantle, and many long internal spicules are visible fig. 26 flic.kr/p/2o8SDmL . The anterior margin is bilaminate with no vertical notch fig. 25 flic.kr/p/2o8SDnH . The translucent sole is yellow to orange-yellow with no pigment marks, and it reveals grey-green, brown or bright yellow viscera and contrasts with the underside of dark mantles fig. 27 flic.kr/p/2o8Tvjs . Occasionally, pale individuals have a yellowish-white sole with very distinct spicules fig. 26 flic.kr/p/2o8SDmL . The dorsal foot-surface is a similar colour to that of the sole but often also has darker speckles fig. 18 flic.kr/p/2o8TvrG .

 

Key identification features

All forms and similar species described below vary; difficult to determine variations and deviations may occur.

Doris ocelligera Mediterranean form.

A characteristic Mediterranean specimen is less than 16 mm long and has a dark opaque body with contrasting white rhinophores and dark gills. The tubercles are dark, broad-based domes or cones, frequently with a dark apical spot.

1) The rhinophores have translucent pure-white fig. 03 flic.kr/p/2o8TvUv to yellowish-white fig. 16 flic.kr/p/2o8NMSe lamellae which strongly contrast with the frequently dull or dark mantle.

2) Tubercles vary in number and size with shape ranging from low rounded fig. 09 flic.kr/p/2o8TvCo to conical with obtuse tip fig. 10 flic.kr/p/2o8TvyL , but always widest at base. They are often much darker than the mantle and/or have a dark apical spot fig. 11 flic.kr/p/2o8TXDE .

3) Spawn, canary-yellow, not undulated, ribbon in loose coil of less than three turns fig. 53 flic.kr/p/2o8RgDg , diameter usually under 10 mm.

4) Large range of mantle colours: usually a dull or dark shade of brown, green or yellow fig. 03 flic.kr/p/2o8TvUv , but occasionally bright yellow, bright orange-yellow fig. 04 flic.kr/p/2o8SDTh , black-grey fig. 05 flic.kr/p/2o8TXVr or blue-grey fig. 06 flic.kr/p/2o8SDLy . Not usually translucent. Mantle often has a quilted appearance.

5) Mature adults usually 6 mm to 12 mm long, usual maximum 15 mm, very rarely 20 mm at extreme extension,.

6) Seen under magnification in good light, some spicules can be seen protruding from tubercles fig. 14 flic.kr/p/2o8SDxN .

7) Tubercles sometimes dark. Dark apical spot on most specimens.

8) Two large spiculose, spatulate guard-tubercles on rim of rhinophore pit fig. 09 flic.kr/p/2o8TvCo .

9) Up to ten spiculose, spatulate guard-tubercles at base of gill fig. 24 flic.kr/p/2o8RhrU .

10) Up to ten unipinnate gills fig. 10 flic.kr/p/2o8TvyL , often much darker than mantle.

11) No linear oral tentacles, but very variable oral-lobe on each side of mouth fig. 25 flic.kr/p/2o8SDnH . Lobe has cavity distally, but often difficult to discern.

12) Precise range limits uncertain; it may extend into the Atlantic in Iberia or intergrade there with the Atlantic form.

 

Doris cf. ocelligera from north-west European Atlantic. EDIT 2024: Molecular sequencing has shown that this is Doris berghi, (Vayssière, 1901).

Features 1 to 4 in particular usually differ from Mediterranean D. ocelligera.

A characteristic Atlantic specimen of D. berghi is less than 16 mm long and has a pale translucent body with concolorous rhinophores and gills. The tubercles are roughly columnar or narrowed at the base and are concolorous with the mantle except for a frequent dark apical spot.

1) Rhinophores concolorous with pale mantle fig. 28 flic.kr/p/2o8Tvg6 & fig. 29 flic.kr/p/2o8Tvfp .

2) Tubercles distally irregular, almost columnar or with narrower base fig. 28 flic.kr/p/2o8Tvg6 & fig. 30 flic.kr/p/2o8SDh2 not a broad based dome .

3) Spawn a whitish or yellowish white, undulating ribbon in a coil of less than three complete turns fig. 31 flic.kr/p/2o8TXgL .

4) Small range fig. 57 flic.kr/p/2o8Rgxp of pale mantle colours between white fig. 28 flic.kr/p/2o8Tvg6 and yellowish fig. 29 flic.kr/p/2o8Tvfp ; often very translucent showing viscera fig. 32 flic.kr/p/2o8RhhR . But occasional exceptions fig. 33 flic.kr/p/2o8SDbk & fig. 34 flic.kr/p/2o8SD8u .

5) Maximum length uncertain, 7 mm to 15 mm on available images. Some divers’ estimates of 20 mm.

6) Detritus frequently catches on tubercles; may be because of projecting spicules fig. 28 flic.kr/p/2o8Tvg6 & fig. 34 flic.kr/p/2o8SD8u .

7) Tubercles concolorous with mantle and often have a dark apical spot fig. 29 flic.kr/p/2o8Tvfp & fig. 30 flic.kr/p/2o8SDh2 .

8) Guard-tubercles present at base of rhinophores fig. 30 flic.kr/p/2o8SDh2 & fig. 32 flic.kr/p/2o8RhhR but no extended sheath observed.

9) Spatulate guard-tubercles at base of gills fig. 30 flic.kr/p/2o8SDh2 .

10) Up to nine unipinnate gills, concolorous with mantle or paler fig. 28 flic.kr/p/2o8Tvg6 ; rare exceptions may have orange gills when mantle white fig. 34 flic.kr/p/2o8SD8u .

11) [No images of head available].

12) Precise range limits uncertain; it may extend into the Mediterranean or intergrade in Iberia with the Mediterranean form.

 

Similar species

Doris verrucosa Linnaeus, 1758.

The large size of adult D. verrucosa, to 70 mm, immediately distinguishes it from both forms of D. ocelligera with usual maximum length 15 mm. No specimens or web image of D.verrucosa under 20 mm length have been knowingly viewed, so it is uncertain if the features below apply to juveniles shorter than 15 mm.

1) Rhinophores concolorous with mantle fig. 35 flic.kr/p/2o8RhaX & fig. 39 flic.kr/p/2o8TWYG , or nearly so. Sometimes flecked with fine brown spots fig. 36 flic.kr/p/2o8NMpf . Stem swollen when not fully extended, but form a continuous cone with the distal lamellate section when fully extended fig. 42 flic.kr/p/2o8TWUJ .

2) Tubercles, vary from very small to very large and swollen with narrow bases fig. 37 flic.kr/p/2o8TX7T .

3) Spawn is a white or yellow undulated ribbon deposited in a spiral fig. 38 flic.kr/p/2o8NMod . Diameter usually over 20 mm.

4) Ground colour of mantle usually whitish, yellow fig. 39 flic.kr/p/2o8TWYG , orange-brown fig. 40 flic.kr/p/2o8SCUi , light violet, or greyish, sometimes with dark dorso-lateral bands fig. 41 flic.kr/p/2o8RgWR .

5) Adult length often 40 mm, up to 70mm.

6) Tubercles smooth without protruding spicules, but adhering detritus may give rough appearance fig. 42 flic.kr/p/2o8TWUJ .

7) Tubercles concolorous with mantle fig. 39 flic.kr/p/2o8TWYG & fig. 43 flic.kr/p/2o8NM8d or a slightly darker shade fig. 37 flic.kr/p/2o8TX7T , occasionally darkened apically fig. 40 flic.kr/p/2o8SCUi .

8) Two smooth large spatulate guard-tubercles on rim of rhinophore pit fig. 35 flic.kr/p/2o8RhaX .

9) Gills protected by spatulate guard-tubercles fig. 41 flic.kr/p/2o8RgWR & fig. 43 flic.kr/p/2o8NM8d .

10) Gills unipinnate and concolorous with fig. 39 flic.kr/p/2o8TWYG , or nearly so fig. 41 flic.kr/p/2o8RgWR or darker than the mantle.

11) Head has short, grooved oral tentacles (Thompson and Brown 1984).

12) Occurs in the Mediterranean and Atlantic coast north to Brittany. A few uncertain reports from south coast England.

 

Doris adrianae Urgorri & Señarís, 2021. fig. 44 flic.kr/p/2o9AcJy

The large size of adult D. adrianae , to 76 mm long, immediately distinguishes it from both forms of D. ocelligera with usual maximum length 15 mm. It is more likely to be confused with D. verrucosa.

1) Rhinophores concolorous with mantle.

2) Tubercles are low domes of various sizes but not greatly inflated fig. 44 flic.kr/p/2o9AcJy .

3) Spawn is a slightly greyish, hyaline white, undulating, 5 mm-wide ribbon with a brown upper edge. It is deposited as a spiral of two to two and a half turns.

4) Mantle yellow to orange-yellow.

5) Adult often 40 mm to 55 mm long and 30 mm to 40 mm wide.

6) Tubercles have nodose surface, resembling cauliflower fig. 45 flic.kr/p/2o9xCvr . Lattice of radiating spicules within tubercles may be visible, but do not protrude; animal feels very stiff.

7) Tubercles concolorous with mantle, no dark apical mark.

8) Rhinophores have tall sheaths with very small tubercles on their surface, but no spatulate guard-tubercles fig. 45 flic.kr/p/2o9xCvr .

9) Gills surrounded at their base by sheath with very small tubercles on its surface, but no spatulate guard-tubercles fig. 46 flic.kr/p/2o9yUTN .

10) Gills translucent whitish with opaque white and dark marks fig. 46 flic.kr/p/2o9yUTN . Tripinnate with wide ragged pinnae; arranged around tall, tubular anal papilla fig. 47 flic.kr/p/2o9Acpf .

11) Head has two lateral oral lobes.

12) First described in 2021 from Galicia, north-west Spain. Also from Portugal and on mud among detritus at 30 to 40 m depth in Bretagne, France fig 48 flic.kr/p/2o9zMGY . As only recently recognised it may be more widespread.

 

Habits and ecology

D. ocelligera is found under intertidal stones fig. 49 flic.kr/p/2o8TuKm and sublittorally, to about 25 m depth in the Mediterranean. The diet is uncertain and may vary geographically. In Croatia, it probably feeds on the early growth stages of various sponge species, including a membranous canary-yellow species sometimes found adhering to underside of rocks with D. ocelligera fig. 50 flic.kr/p/2o8RgRa .

In Cornwall, faeces of D. berghi contain sponge-spicules, possibly of a Halichondria species fig. 51 flic.kr/p/2o8NM1V .

Like other nudibranchs, both forms are simultaneous hermaphrodites.

D. ocelligera in Croatia, when 6 mm and longer, breed from June to October and in January fig. 52 flic.kr/p/2o8NLTk . Canary-yellow, not-undulated, ribbons of spawn are attached by the edge in a loose coil of up to about two and a half turns fig. 53 flic.kr/p/2o8RgDg , diameter 3 to 8 mm, rarely to 20 mm with three turns if laid by an unusually big individual. The ova may be arranged in the ribbon in distinct transverse lines of about 15 ova each, but may become disordered.

D. berghi in north-west Europe deposit whitish or yellowish white, undulating ribbons of spawn in a coil in July fig. 31 flic.kr/p/2o8TXgL and probably in other summer months.

 

Distribution and status

D. ocelligera sensu stricto lives in the Mediterranean including the Adriatic and the North African coast.

Specimens recorded in the Atlantic fig. 32 flic.kr/p/2o8RhhR , D. berghi, It was first recorded (as D. ocelligera) in Britain in 2003 in southern Cornwall fig. 54 flic.kr/p/2o8SCs6 and 2004 in Dorset (Rudman, 2009). Since then, it has been recorded over sixty times as far as Dorset and North Devon fig. 55 flic.kr/p/2o8TWy8 , and several have been found on the west of Ireland fig. 56 flic.kr/p/2o8TWxw and, in 2020, one in Skye, Scotland fig. 58 flic.kr/p/2oaFco8 NBN map species.nbnatlas.org/species/NHMSYS0021056225 (accessed 21 December 2022). It is locally common; over 30 being found at a time in Cornwall fig. 57 flic.kr/p/2o8Rgxp (D. Fenwick, pers. comm., 21 December 2022). Since 2020, several have been recorded from the Oosterschelde estuary in the Netherlands GBIF map www.gbif.org/species/5724728 .

 

Acknowledgements

The images in this account are by author Jakov Prkić and the following photographers whom we gratefully thank: Glenn Biscop, Sarah Bowen, Pierre Corbrion, Robert Durrant, David Fenwick, David Kipling, Katherine Knight, Leo Lanča, Paolo Mariottini, Alen Petani, Siôn Roberts, François Roche, Daniel Rodrigues, João Pedro Silva, Stefan Verheyen and Carla van Westing.

 

References and links

Bergh L.S.R. 1881. Malacologische Untersuchungen, in: Semper, C.G., 1887. Reisen im Archipel der Philippinen. pp 79-128. Wiesbaden, Germany.

As Staurodoris ocelligera pp. 95-98 www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/50267#page/133/mode/1up

& plate H fig.11-21 (internal anatomy) archive.org/details/malacologischeun04berg/page/n359/mode...

 

Fenwick, D. (accessed December 2022) Aphotomarine, images of marine molluscs. www.aphotomarine.com/

 

Koehler, E. Sea slugs of the Mediterranean Sea and elsewhere. www.medslugs.de/E/Med/select.htm

 

Prkić, J., Petani, A., Iglić, Đ. and Lanča, L. 2018. Opisthobranchs of the Adriatic Sea. Photographic atlas and list of Croatian Species. Croatia.

 

Renau, M. F., Salvador, X., & Moles, J. 2024. Molecular and morpho-anatomical assessment of the family Dorididae (Mollusca, Nudibranchia) in the Mediterranean and North-East Atlantic. European Journal of Taxonomy. 943(1): 59–79. doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2024.943.2585 or europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/2...

 

Rudman, W.B. 2006 Doris ocelligera (Bergh, 1881). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/doriocel [Includes Mediterranean and Atlantic forms/species and confused maximum length; see description above].

 

Rudman, W.B. 2009 (Aug 21). Comment on first sighting of Doris ocelligera in the UK by David Kipling. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. www.seaslugforum.net/find/22611

 

Schmekel, L. & Portmann, A. 1982. Opisthobranchia des Mittelmeeres. Berlin- Heidelberg. www.seaslugforum.net/find/22611

 

Urgorri, V., Señarís, M.P., Díaz-Agras, G., Candás, M. & Gómez-Rodríguez, C. 2021. Doris adrianae sp. nov. (Heterobranchia; Nudibranchia; Doridina) from the Galician coasts (NW Iberian Peninsula). Nova Acta Científica Compostelana (Bioloxía) 28: 1-33.

www.researchgate.net/publication/350290829_Doris_adrianae...

 

Glossary

cephalic = (adj.) of or on the head.

cf. = abbreviation of ‘confer’, Latin for ‘compare’, inserted into name when resemblance indicates a possible but uncertain identity.

 

dorid = a sea slug in the infraorder Doridoidei; usually with gills and rhinophores on the dorsum; often shaped like half a lemon or grape.

 

dorsolateral = at or near junction/merging of dorsal and lateral surfaces.

hermaphrodite, simultaneous = individual acts as both male and female at the same time with similar partner(s).

 

lamellae = (sing. lamella) small plates on rhinophores, or leaflets of gill.

mantle = (of sea slugs) sheet of tissue forming part or all of notum.

notum = dorsal body surface.

nudibranch = seaslugs in the order Nudibranchia with no shell when adult.

ocellated = having eye-like markings.

pinna = (pl. pinnae) primary element/leaflet of a pinnate gill, leaf, feather etc.

plankton = animals and plants that drift in pelagic zone (main body of water).

rhinophores (pl.) = chemo-receptor tentacles on top of head of nudibranch.

sensu lato = (abbreviation s.l.) in the wide sense, possibly an aggregate of more than one species.

 

sensu stricto = (abbreviation s.s.) in the strict sense, excluding species that have been aggregated or confused with it.

 

spicule (in dorid seaslugs) = small, slender, sharp-pointed feature mainly composed of calcite (CaCO3) and brucite (Mg(OH)2) .

 

tripinnate = (of gill plume) threefold branching; “boughs, branches, twigs” in one plane like a feather.

 

unipinnate = (of gill plume) branching singly; boughs but no subsequent branches or twigs, in one plane like a feather.

 

veliger = shelled larva of marine gastropod or bivalve mollusc which swims by beating cilia of a velum (bilobed flap).

 

Done