Dalmatian doris
Peltodoris atromaculata
- Scientific name
- Peltodoris atromaculata
- Group
- Nudibranchs & Molluscs
- Rarity
- Common
- Where to see it
- Mediterranean
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Not evaluated
Did you know?
The Dalmatian doris gets its name from its white body covered in black spots, resembling the coat of the dog breed. It feeds almost exclusively on a single sponge species, Petrosia ficiformis, borrowing some of its chemical compounds to make itself unpalatable to predators.
What defines this group — Nudibranchs & Molluscs
Sea snails, with or without a shell — nudibranchs traded theirs for warning colours.
- “Nudibranch” means naked gills: the plume on the back is their breathing apparatus.
- Two rhinophores on the head act as a nose, following scent trails.
- Many recycle the venom of their prey — anemones, hydroids — for their own defence.