Hammerhead Doto (Doto amyra)

Hammerhead doto (photo credit: Dani Nielsen)

Description: Hammerhead dotos are one of the smallest species of nudibranch found at Haystack Rock. They are typically under 1 cm in length! Their body color is translucent clear to white or cream colored. Along the length of their body, they have 5-8 pairs of cerata that each have multiple tubercles. These cerata and tubercles vary in color from tan, light pink, or light orange. The rhinophores are translucent with tiny white dots and have a sheath at the base.

Habitat: Ranging from Alaska to Mexico, hammerhead dotos can be found in tide pools around seaweed.

Diet: These nudibranchs feed mostly on hydroids.

Tide Pool Tidbits:

  • Scientists are still looking into this species as it may actually be two different species - or maybe even four separate species!

  • The color of the hammerhead doto’s cerata may change based on the color of the hydroid the hammerhead doto has been eating.

References: UCSC Long Marine Laboratory, iNaturalist