Mo. 74 . DORIS (Sea lemon)

 

Phylum : Mollusca

Class    : Gastropoda

Order  : Nudibranchia

Family  : Dorididae

Genus  : Doris

DESCRIPTION

      Geographic Distribution: Cosmopolitan but specially found in the waters of New England.

Habit and Habitat: Doris is a sluggish marine and curious gastropod found under stones at low tide mark and between weeds. It feeds on incrusting organisms like sponges

• Commonly known as sea lemon.
• Body consists of more or less ovoid mass with a convex warm dorsal side.
• Colour is purplish brown.
• Head bears a pair of short retractile tentacles or rhinophores beset with calcareous spicules. 
• Mantle is usually pigmented and contains calcareous spicules or dorsal tubercles. 
• The anus lies mid-posteriorly and is surrounded by a circlet of feathered retractile secondary branchiae. 
• Ventral surface has mouth, head, tentacle and mantles. Anus is surrounded by branchia or gills.
• Foot has a large creeping sole. Dorsal surface has protruding penis. 
• Digestive gland unbranched compact mass and nervous system of euthyneurous type.
• Sexes are united and the gonopore is asymmetrically placed on the right side of the body.

IUCN Status: Not evaluated