Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California

Compiled & photographed by Gary McDonald, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz

Cuthona lagunae (O'Donoghue, 1926)               
Orange-face Cuthona
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia: Nudibranchia: Aeolidina: Tergipedidae
Geographic Range: Curry Co., OR, to Bahia Tortugas, Baja California, Mexico. Synonyms: Catriona ronga, Cratena rutila, Cuthona lagunae, Trinchesia lagunae
Back to: Aeolidina Back to: Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area
Cuthona_lagunae_0013
Asilomar, Monterey Co., CA; 8 Apr 2008; 16mm total length.

Description: Ground color translucent greyish-white to cream. Top of head bears a large, rhomboidal, orange-red blotch. An irregular, opaque white line occurs dorso-medially on tail. Cerata bear a few opaque dots, tips orange-red; cores vary from ochre to almost black. Oral tentacles translucent greyish-white with encrusting opaque white on distal two thirds. Rhinophores smooth, orange-red, with extreme tips slightly lighter. Anterior foot corners rounded.
Size: Typically about 10mm in length, but may exceed 15mm.

Cuthona_lagunae_0020
Asilomar, Monterey Co., CA; 8 Apr 2008; 16mm total length.
Cuthona_lagunae_0103
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 8 May 2008; 10mm total length.
Cuthona_lagunae_0093
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 9 Apr 2008; 11mm total length.
Cuthona_lagunae_6_0105
Asilomar, Monterey Co., CA; 4 June 2008; 15mm total length.
Cuthona_lagunae_7-0113.jpg
Asilomar, Monterey Co., CA; 12 Nov 2008; 9mm total length.
Cuthona_lagunae_8-0124.jpg
Asilomar, Monterey Co., CA; 27 Apr 2009; 12mm total length.

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