Aglaja ocelligera (Bergh, 1894)

Description

A small sea slug that burrows in sand and mud. The body is dark and scattered all over with small pale spots that stand out like little eyes. The sides of the body form wing-like folds, and a small shell is retained internally.

Distribution

Northeastern Pacific along the west coast of North America, from Sitka, Alaska, south to San Diego, California. It occurs on sand and mud bottoms from near the surface to over 200 m depth. The species was originally described from material collected in the eastern Pacific by the steamer Albatross.

Etymology

The specific epithet ocelligera derives from Latin ocellus (“little eye,” an eye-like spot) and gerere (“to bear”), after the eye-like spots covering the body.

Remarks

A carnivore that burrows through sand and mud in search of prey, feeding on small snails such as bubble snails (Haminoea).

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References

• Doridium ocelligerum n.sp., Bergh R. (1894). Reports on the dredging operations off the West Coast of Central America to the Galapagos, to the West Coast of Mexico, and in the Gulf of California, in charge of Alexander Agassiz, carried on by the U. S. Fish Commission Steamer "Albatross", during 1891. XIII. Die Opisthobranchien. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 25(10): 125-235, pls. I-XII.
• Aglaja ocelligera, Behrens D.W., Hermosillo A., Fletcher K. & Jensen G.C. (2022). Nudibranchs & Sea Slugs of the Eastern Pacific. Molamarine.