Hopkin's Rose
Nudibranch (Hopkinsia rosacaea) ~ Hopkins
rose is a lovely species belonging to the dorid group
of nudibranchs. The tentacle-like structures on its dorsal
surface are unusual for a dorid nudibranch. As a dorid,
the Hopkins rose has a set of two elongated receptor
organs at the head (anterior) end -- the rhinophores.
A second feature of dorid nudibranchs is the set of gills
at the posterior end of the body. The Hopkins rose nudibranch
range is from Oregon to Baja California. It feeds
on another pink animal, the bryozoan, Eurystomella
bilabiata, a lovely rose-colored bryozoan found
under rocks in the low tide zone and below, from Southern
California to Alaska. |