98 — Carinated nudibranch, Atagema carinata

Atagema carinata, Mt. Maunganui, 2014.

Atagema carinata, Mt. Maunganui, 2014.

Atagema carinata, Mt. Maunganui, 2014.

Notes on Atagema carinata from Mt. Maunganui
(Williams 1967 p19).

Atagema carinata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832) is a medium-sized nudibranch (~60mm) endemic to New Zealand (apparently found throughout, although records are very patchy) and one not often seen. This may be because they aren't very common, but it could also be that there are few people looking who would know what it was if they saw one.

They have a "skin two sizes too big" look to them, or look a bit like a nudibranch wearing an overcoat. Larger ones also possess a dorsal keel. This species is another which appears to be an ecological void—pretty much nothing is known about them.

This one was seen under a small rock ledge, at the low tide mark on the northwestern side of the base of Mt. Maunganui, 24/12/14. There was another one in the same large rock pool; it was on some red algae.













More info:

Sea Slug Forum: http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/atagcari

Williams EG, 1967. Molluscs from the Bay of Plenty. Whitcomb & Tombs Ltd.