Robin Gwen Agarwal, USA
Info
Tenellia spadix (MacFarland, 1966)
Tupus locality for the scientific description of Tenellia spadix is Monterey Bay, California.
The body is moderately narrow. The length is up to 11 mm. The rhinophores are smooth and similar in length to the mouth tentacles. The cerata are relatively long, cylindrical and arranged in continuous rows (up to 4 rows). The foot is moderately wide, rounded at the front, without foot corners.
The base color is translucent gray. Both rhinophores and oral tentacles are clearly covered in orange pigment. The digestive glands in the cerata are various shades of brown. A white line extends along most of the length of the cerata. A few small opaque white spots are scattered on the tips of the head, mouth tentacles, rhinophores and body.
Occurrence: Northeast Pacific, California, the northernmost border may be between Oregon and Washington State. Habitats. Was found in shallow areas covered with hydrozoans, which these snails feed on.
There is a possibility of confusion with Catriona columbiana. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to distinguish these two species in terms of both their appearance and their distribution area. Tenellia spadix has red-orange mouth tentacles, while Catriona columbiana has white mouth tentacles. Both have red-orange rhinophores. Range also helps distinguish the two species, although they may overlap in Oregon. Catriona columbiana occurs from the Sea of Japan across Alaska to Cape Arago, Oregon, and Tenellia spadix occurs from Cape Arago, Oregon to San Diego, California.
Synonymised names
Catriona spadix (MacFarland, 1966) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Cratena spadix MacFarland, 1966 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Tupus locality for the scientific description of Tenellia spadix is Monterey Bay, California.
The body is moderately narrow. The length is up to 11 mm. The rhinophores are smooth and similar in length to the mouth tentacles. The cerata are relatively long, cylindrical and arranged in continuous rows (up to 4 rows). The foot is moderately wide, rounded at the front, without foot corners.
The base color is translucent gray. Both rhinophores and oral tentacles are clearly covered in orange pigment. The digestive glands in the cerata are various shades of brown. A white line extends along most of the length of the cerata. A few small opaque white spots are scattered on the tips of the head, mouth tentacles, rhinophores and body.
Occurrence: Northeast Pacific, California, the northernmost border may be between Oregon and Washington State. Habitats. Was found in shallow areas covered with hydrozoans, which these snails feed on.
There is a possibility of confusion with Catriona columbiana. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to distinguish these two species in terms of both their appearance and their distribution area. Tenellia spadix has red-orange mouth tentacles, while Catriona columbiana has white mouth tentacles. Both have red-orange rhinophores. Range also helps distinguish the two species, although they may overlap in Oregon. Catriona columbiana occurs from the Sea of Japan across Alaska to Cape Arago, Oregon, and Tenellia spadix occurs from Cape Arago, Oregon to San Diego, California.
Synonymised names
Catriona spadix (MacFarland, 1966) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Cratena spadix MacFarland, 1966 · unaccepted > superseded combination
