Cadlina limbaughorum Lance, 1962

Description

A small dorid with a translucent white body. Whereas most members of the genus Cadlina have yellow spots (mantle glands) around the mantle margin, this species lacks any yellow markings and instead has striking black rhinophores and black gills — the combination that distinguishes it from its congeners.

Distribution

Northeastern Pacific, recorded from Santa Barbara, California, south to Johnson’s Seamount off Baja California, Mexico. The type locality is the Channel Islands, California.

Etymology

The specific epithet limbaughorum was given by the author, Lance, in honour of Conrad Limbaugh — the renowned diving officer of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography — and his wife Nan. Because it commemorates two people, the epithet takes the Latin plural genitive ending -orum.

Remarks

A sponge feeder that preys on sponges such as Dysidea amblia.

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References

• Cadlina limbaughorum n.sp., Lance J.R. (1962). Two new opisthobranch mollusks from southern California. The Veliger. 4(3): 155-159.
• Cadlina limbaughorum, Behrens D.W., Hermosillo A., Fletcher K. & Jensen G.C. (2022). Nudibranchs & Sea Slugs of the Eastern Pacific. Molamarine.