Gastropods

Felimare picta - Giant Doris

Description

Felimare picta is a colorful sea slug belonging to the Chromodorididae family and is one of the largest species in the Mediterranean, reaching a length of up to 19 cm. It has an elongated body, almost as tall as it is wide, with striking, variable coloration. The base color ranges from whitish to yellowish or blue, often with dark spots or stripes and a yellowish band in the middle of the back. The gills in adult specimens are often branched.

Diet

Felimare picta feeds on various sponges. Along the edge of the mantle, especially near the rhinophores and gills, it has numerous whitish glands that secrete a substance called longifolin, which has a strong deterrent effect against predators.

Lifestyle

• Habitat: It is found in the Mediterranean Sea (e.g., off Sicily, Greece, Spain, Portugal) and the eastern North Atlantic (Azores, Canary Islands), as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Prefers dark rocky walls rich in algae, sponges, and other invertebrates.
• Activity: It is relatively common in its habitat and moves slowly across the seafloor.
• Reproduction: Like all Chromodorididae, it is a hermaphrodite.

Fun Facts

• Size Record: Felimare picta is the largest chromodorid sea slug in the Mediterranean.
• Color Variations: The coloration changes with growth. Young individuals (about 10 mm) have an irregular, white mantle edge with a yellowish band on the back and black, rounded spots on the inner side of the edge. As they grow, the patterns become more complex.
• Synonyms: The species was previously known by many names, including Chromodoris elegans, Chromodoris valenciennesi, Doris picta, Doris nardii, and Glossodoris picta.
• Chemical Defense: The glands along the mantle edge secrete longifolin, a substance with a strong deterrent effect against predators.