Key: Order Nudibranchia Suborder Cladobranchia Superfamily Arminacea
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Subclass
Opisthobranchia
Order
Nudibranchia
Taken primarily from Kozloff,
1987, 1996 p. 254 (Copyright 1987, 1996, University
of Washington Press. Used in this web page by permission of University
of Washington Press)
| 1a |
Without cerata:
dorsum
with several white longitudinal ridges on a pinkish brown background (these
ridges converge anteriorly toward the rhinophores)
(on sandy substrata) |
Armina californica |
| 1b |
With cerata;
dorsum
without white longitudinal ridges |
2 |
| 2a |
Cerata slender,
circular or only slightly oval in cross-section, and approximately the
same diameter over most of their length; without a prominent oral
veil. |
3 |
| 2b |
Cerata leaflike
(broad in the middle and tapering toward both ends), distinctly flattened
in cross section; with a prominent oral
veil on the head |
4 |
| 3a |
Body whitish, translucent, without blue spots on the dorsum;
with an irregular dorsomedial
red band (this may be interrupted) running from in front of the rhinophores
to near the last pair of cerata;
crest between the rhinophores distinctly red; terminal portions of cerata
with a proximal orange band followed by a transparent colorless band and
finally by an opaque white tip. (Janolus fuscus in original key) |
Antiopella fuscus |
| 3b |
Body whitish, translucent, with small (visible with magnification)
blue spots scattered over the dorsum;
without a dorsomedial
red line; crest betewen the
rhinophores sometimes pale orange but not red; terminal portions of
cerata
with a proximal orange band succeeded by white, or with an orange band
succeeded by white bands and finally by blue bands. (Janolus barbarensis
in original key) |
Antiopella barbarensis |
| 4a |
Body orange, with white splotches on the dorsum
(with white lines on the eges of the cerata,
but not around the foot and oral
veil, or between the rhinophores)
(Dirona aurantia in original key) |
Dirona pellucida |
| 4b |
Body not orange, and without white splotches on the dorsum |
5 |
| 5a |
Cerata smooth,
each bordered by a white line; body usually whitish, translucent (some
specimens are mauve, and occasionally the cerata
are pinkish); with white lines around the edge of the foot and oral
veil, as well as between the
rhinophores |
Dirona albolineata |
| 5b |
Cerata usually
roughened, each with a pale red spot, but not bordered by a white line;
body light brown to greenish gray, with small yellowish, greenish, and
pink dots; without white lines around the edge of the foot and oral
veil, or between the rhinophores
(not likely to be found north of Oregon) |
Dirona picta |
Lower Taxonomic Levels Covered in This Key:
Armina californica
Dirona albolineata
Dirona pellucida
Page created by Dave Cowles
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