Doriopsilla
areolata can be found in Mediterranean and Atlantic, and it has following
characteristics :
- the body ranges in colour from pale yellow to dark brown
- the mantle is covered in small tubercles and in a network of white lines.
A colour form of this species has some white spots instead of lines.
- the border of the mantle is orange or yellow
- the rhinophores and gills are pale yellow
- the egg-ribbon is coiled and yellow
There are 3 subspecies :
- Doriopsilla areolata areolata << Mediterranean, European Atlantic
and Northern Africa >> typical coloration
- Doriopsilla areolata albolineata << African Atlantic - Ghana
- Angola >> more transverse white
lines
- Doriopsilla areolata nigrolineata << Caribbean >> a network
of black lines rather than white
Doriopsilla areolata has the same appearance than Doriopsilla miniata.
And yet, they are different species. The geographical distribution allows
to distinguish them : D. miniata is an Indo-West Pacific species. Moreover,
the egg-ribbon of D. miniata is pinkish red and differs from D.
areolata's.
Mediterranean
