Daily Archives: May 26, 2013

Acanthodoris nanaimoensis–the wine-plumed spiny dorid nudibranch

Posted on by

On May 26 2013, Gretchen Markle reported on a nudibrach
” Today we found two specimens of the grey phase Acanthodoris nanaimoensis (unmistakable with its maroon-tipped rhinopores and gills) on the beach at Chris Pratt’s.” (see location image below.)

gmMay12AnanaimoensisPhylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Subclass Opisthobranchia
Order Nudibranchia
Suborder Doridacea
Family Onchidorididae
Genus Acanthodoris
Species nanaimoensis
Common name: Wine-plumed spiny doris,

The range of this species is Baranof Island, Alaska to Santa Barbara, CA; less common in southern portion of range.

Click on this image from Google Earth 3D for the location.

Shoreline in front of Chris Pratt's place.

Shoreline in front of Chris Pratt’s place.

Henricia pumila–dwarf mottled Henricia

Posted on by

Gretchen Markle reported a new seastar Henricia pumila for the  April 27 Metchosin Bioblitz on the Laird’s beach , south of Taylor Road and north off Weir’s beach (see Google image below). Henricia pumila is an uncommon seastar, having only been officially described in 2010. Phil Lambert confirmed the identification.

See  http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/zt02329p036.pdf

Phylum Echinodermata
Class Asteroidea
Order Spinulosida
Suborder Leptognathina
Family Echinasteridae
Genus Henricia
Species pumila, Eernisse et al., 2010
Common name: Dwarf mottled henricia.

Laura Verghegge and students of Pearson College also reported with an image, this species and an egg mass in East Sooke Park in March of 2013:  http://pearsoncollegemarinescience.wordpress.com/tag/henricia-pumila/
LOCATION: Click for enlargement:
Shoreline in front of Chris Pratt's place.

Shoreline in front of Chris Pratt’s place.