Aldisa cooperi is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cadlinidae.[3]

Aldisa cooperi
Aldisa cooperi, head end towards the bottom of this image
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Family: Cadlinidae
Genus: Aldisa
Species:
A. cooperi
Binomial name
Aldisa cooperi
Synonyms
  • Aldisa sanguinea cooperi Robilliard & Baba, 1972[2]

Distribution

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This demersal nudibranch is found in cold to temperate waters, from the intertidal to subtidal zones (up to a depth of 20 m), along the Pacific coast of North America, from California to Alaska. It has also been reported from the coasts of Japan and Korea.[4]

Description

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Cooper's aldisa is a small dorid nudibranch, growing to a length of 25 mm. Its mantle has a yellow to orange color, with some black spots spread over it. It has a smooth body covered with sparse, low tubercles and gills clustered on the posterior part of its body. It lays its eggs in ribbons.[5][6]

Conservation status

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The vulnerability of this species is low to moderate, but it is not listed in the IUCN Red List.

Ecology

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It is usually found nestled in its food sponge Anthoarcuata graciae.[7] This sponge is currently classified as a member of the genus Antho, family Clathriidae, but may actually belong to the family Hymedesmiidae as other Aldisa species specialise on sponges from this family. [8]

References

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  1. ^ Robilliard, G.A. & Baba K. (1972). "Aldisa sanguinea cooperi subsp. nov. from the coast of the state of Washington, with notes on its feeding and spawning habits (Nudibranchia, Dorididae, Aldisinae)". Pub. Seto Marine Biol. Lab., 19(6, March): 409-414.
  2. ^ Robilliard, G. A. & Baba, K. 1972. Aldisa sanguinea cooperi subsp. nov. from the coast of the state of Washington, with notes on its feeding and spawning habits (Nudibranchia, Dorididae, Aldisinae) Publications of Seto Marine Biological Laboratory 19: 409-414.
  3. ^ MolluscaBase (2018). Aldisa cooperi Robilliard & Baba, 1972. Accessed on 2018-12-03
  4. ^ Baba, K.; Hamatani, I.; Hisai, K. (1956). "Observations on the spawning habits of some of the Japanese Opisthobranchia". Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory. 5: 209–220.
  5. ^ Rudman, W.B., 2000 (October 16) Aldisa cooperi Robilliard & Baba, 1972. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  6. ^ Strathmann, M.F. (1987). Reproduction and Development of Marine Invertebrates of the Northern Pacific Coast, chapter 12. University of Washington Press. pp. 268–302. ISBN 0-295-96523-1.
  7. ^ Gustafson, K; Andersen, R. J. (1985). "Chemical studies of British Columbia nudibranchs". Tetrahedron. 41 (6): 1101–1108. doi:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)96478-6.
  8. ^ Ayer, S.W.; Andersen, R.J. Steroidal antifeedants from the dorid nudibranch Aldisa sanguinea cooperi. Tetrahedron Lett. 1982, 23, 1039–1042.