Scientific Name:
Doris montereyensis
Description
Bright yellow to burnt orange oval-shaped body with black dots and bumpy skin. Two antennae in front and frilly gills on back end. Grows to 11.5 cm (4.5 in).
Behaviors
Uses tearing teeth on its zipper-like tongue to feed. Sea lemons have a bad odor and flavor, so predators avoid or spit them out.
Fun Facts
This nudibranch lays two million eggs in long yellow ribbons, but fewer than 1% of the eggs survive to become adults. Sea lemons store toxins in their bodies to deter predators by making themselves unpalatable.
Nature Topics
Photo credit: ©Kip Evans