Species profile
barnacle-eating dorid
Onchidoris bilamellata
At a glance
barnacle-eating dorid (Onchidoris bilamellata) is a sea slug present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 3,342 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, Washington, and Maine the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- This nudibranch is a specialized predator that feeds almost exclusively on barnacles.
- Adults rarely exceed 1 inch in length, with a white body dotted with brown tubercles.
- It lays eggs in coiled, ribbon-like masses on the shells of its barnacle prey.
- Found in cold waters from the Arctic to both coasts of North America.
- Like all nudibranchs, adults lack a shell entirely, unlike most of their molluscan relatives.
Where barnacle-eating dorid are seen
Background
Onchidoris bilamellata, common name the rough-mantled doris, is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Onchidorididae.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's barnacle-eating dorid article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.