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

Doto fragilis
The nudibranch Doto fragilis, Pembrokeshire, Wales, U
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Cladobranchia
Family: Dotidae
Genus: Doto
Species:
D. fragilis
Binomial name
Doto fragilis
Forbes, 1838[1]
Synonyms
  • Doto aurita Hesse, 1872 (dubious synonym)
  • Doto pinnigera Hesse, 1872
  • Melibaea fragilis Forbes, 1838
  • Meliboea minuta Forbes, 1844
Subspecies
  • Doto fragilis nipponensis Baba, 1971
  • Doto fragilis umia Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1969: synonym of Doto chica Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1960

Distribution

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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

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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

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

References

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  1. ^ Forbes, E. 1838. Malacologia Monensis: a catalogue of the Mollusca inhabiting the Isle of Man and the neighbouring sea. Edinburgh: J. Carfrae and son pp. XII + 63 + 3 pl.
  2. ^ Gofas, S. (2015). Doto fragilis (Forbes, 1838). In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-01-26.
  3. ^ Rudman, W.B., 1999 (August 29) Doto fragilis (Forbes, 1838). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  4. ^ Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C., 2010. Doto fragilis (Forbes, 1838). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland
  • 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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  • "Doto fragilis fragilis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  • Photos of Doto fragilis on Sealife Collection