This species bears a close resemblance to Doriopsilla albopunctata, so close in fact that they were reportedly not discovered to be a different species until a radula was found during dissection; the sucking sponge feeders of Doriopsilla lack radulae. I had assumed the animals on this page were Doriopsilla until my error was pointed out on iNaturalist. I presume the fine caryophyllidia covering the dorsal surface gave it away, since two other primary differentiating features are impossible to tell from a photo of the back. If one can examine a specimen closely, B. mimetica has a rigid body, not soft like Doriopsilla, and on the underside the digitiform labial tentacles are elongate rather than rudimentary. The specimens below were found near the Yellowbanks area of Santa Cruz Island.
Nose to nose, but the Navanax decided to go elsewhere for dinner.
The ID of this one is uncertain.
Created 16 March 2022
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