Species profile
Heath's Dorid
Geitodoris heathi
At a glance
Heath's Dorid (Geitodoris heathi) 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 2,958 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Washington, and British Columbia the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- A shell-less sea slug (nudibranch) found in Pacific tide pools from California to Alaska.
- Like most dorid nudibranchs, it feeds on sponges attached to rocky substrate.
- Breathes through a rosette of feathery gills on its back that retract instantly when disturbed.
- Lays ribbon-shaped egg masses coiled and attached to rocks or algae.
- As a simultaneous hermaphrodite, any two individuals can mate with each other.
Where Heath's Dorid are seen
Background
Geitodoris heathi, common name "Heath's dorid", is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Dorididae.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Heath's Dorid article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other sea slugs/nudibranchs on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.