Mollusks - # - ECOLOGY PHOTOGRAPHIC -- Scientifically Oriented Images of the Natural World -- (c) Joseph W. Dougherty --

Mollusks from around the world, in situ and ex vivo. Descriptions and ecology-oriented text accompany each entry.

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© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved.

Reef octopus hiding under a sponge-encrusted rock.

© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved.

Aeolidia papillosa (Linnaeus, 1761)
Shaggy Mouse Nudibranch

This nudibranch species lives on the Atlantic coast of The British Isles and Northern Europe, the Atlantic coast of North America, and the Pacific Coast of North America. It also appears to occur on the west and east coast of South America.

© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved.

Mitra idae Melvill, 1893
Ida's Miter

Distribution and Ecology: This miter lives from Northern California, United States, to Baja California, Mexico. The species is a specialized carnivore, and can live for weeks without food. The shell itself is a pinkish-tan color, but in life the shell is covered in a strong black periostracum.

An Ida's Miter snail, burdened by several hitchhiking Hoof Snails, crawls along colonial tunicates and other encrusting invertebrates at North Monastery Beach.

Monastery State Beach, Carmel Valley, California.

© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved.

Cadlina luteomarginata MacFarland, 1905
Yellow-edged Cadlina

Distribution and Ecology: Eastern Pacific from Alaska to Mexico. This species lives under rocks and in tidepools from the intertidal zone to a depth of about 20 m in the circalittoral zone. It eats several species of spiculate sponges and also sponges from the order Dendroceratida. It is predated on by seastars, such as Solaster dawsoni.

© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved.

Ceratostoma foliatum (Gmelin, 1791)
Leafy Hornmouth

Synonyms:
- Purpurata foliata
- Pterorytis foliatus
- Ceratostoma foliata

Distribution: Sitka (Alaska) to San Diego; uncommon south of Point Conception (CA)

Other common names: Foliate hornmouth, Murex, Leafy thorn purpura, Foliated thorn purpura.

A Leafy Hornmouth snail crawls over encrusting tunicates and other sessile invertebrates at North Monastery Beach.

Monastery State Beach, Carmel Valley, California.

© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved.

© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved.

Tridacna derasa (Röding, 1798)
Southern Giant Clam

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Keywords: 2008 0034

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