Orange-peel doris (Acanthodoris lutea)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Gastropoda · Order: Nudibranchia · Family: Acanthodorididae · Genus: Acanthodoris.

Accepted name: Acanthodoris lutea · Authority: MacFarland, 1925 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 535686.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=535686 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Acanthodoris lutea. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 3 cm · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.

SeaLifeBase notes: Assumed maximum length from Ref. 822. Feeds on the bryozoan Alcyonidium sp (Ref. 822).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 7815) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Acanthodoris-lutea.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

36,819 georeferenced occurrence records for Acanthodoris lutea are published through GBIF from 3 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 16 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 19 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States of America (36,785); Canada (33); Mexico (1).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2292105) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2292105&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=535686 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

This species is the largest of the northeastern Pacific onchidorids. It is a common species, and it is very noticeable because of its bright coloration, which is aposematic. The species name "lutea" is a Latin word which means an orange-yellow color.

The generic name, "acantho" comes from the Greek word meaning spiny, and "doris" is the name of an ancient Greek sea nymph.

This nudibranch grows to about 30 mm in length. It has a bright orange papillated dorsum covered with yellow specks. As is the case with many nudibranchs, this bright coloration is thought to be a reminder to would-be predators of its distasteful nature, an example of aposematic coloration.

However, paler color variations exist in British Canada. Individuals of A. lutea in the Salish Sea are extremely variable in color, ranging from almost fully white to brown with whitish papillae, due to different habitats and diets. When handled, these slugs often smell of sandalwood.

This dorid nudibranch was described from Cayucos, San Luis Obispo County, California. It lives on the Pacific coast of North America from Cape Arago, Oregon to northern Baja California, Mexico. Specimens from Duxbury Reef, Marin County, California and Puget Sound, Kitsap County, Washington have been sequenced for the 16S ribosomal RNA, Histone H3 and CO1 genes.

The orange-peel doris lives in the intertidal and subtidal zones on rocky shores.

Acanthodoris lutea feeds on bryozoans of the genus Alcyonidium. It turns the chemicals taken from the bryozoan food into a noxious metabolite which is toxic to possible predators. This species is aposematically colored, warning predators of this toxic deterrent.

Source: Wikipedia: Acanthodoris lutea — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthodoris_lutea (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.