Doto fragilis (Forbes 1838)

Doto fragilis is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Dotidae.^[2]

Subspecies

• Doto fragilis nipponensis Baba, 1971
• Doto fragilis umia Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1969: synonym of Doto chica Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1960

Distribution

This species was first described from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea in 1838 by the famed naturalist Edward Forbes. It has subsequently been reported from all around Britain and Ireland and continental coasts south to Portugal and into the Mediterranean Sea.^[3]

Description

The body of this nudibranch is predominantly brown in colour. There is a series of pale patches along the sides of the body.^[4]

Ecology

Doto fragilis feeds on the hydroids Nemertesia antennina and Nemertesia ramosa, family Plumulariidae.

References

• Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels. 50: pp. 180–213

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