Monterey Sea Lemon Nudibranch (Doris montereyensis)

Description: As its name suggests, the Monterey sea lemon is a bright yellow color with matching yellow gills and rhinophores. They may have black spots on the tips of the tubercles (tiny projections on the body). They can reach up to 15 cm long but those found in tide pools are typically much smaller - closer to 4-7 cm.

Habitat: Monterey sea lemons live around rocky habitats or pilings. They can be found from Alaska to southern California in the low intertidal all the way down to 256 m deep!

Diet: This species primarily feeds on sponges and seems to have a preference for bread crumb sponge (Halichondria panicea).

Tide Pool Tidbits:

•  The gills of this species can be fully retracted.

• Monterey sea lemons only live for about one year.

• Individuals can release up to two million eggs at once! These eggs look like a pale-yellow coiled ribbon on the rocks. Fewer than 1% of all larvae survive into adulthood.

References: Walla Walla University, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, The New Beachcomber’s Guide to the Pacific Northwest by J Duane Sept