California armina (Armina californica)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF.
Last updated
Minette Layne from Seattle, Washington, USA · via Wikipedia: Armina californica · CC BY 2.0
California armina (Armina californica) is a marine species in the family Arminidae (Mollusca › Gastropoda › Nudibranchia), recorded in the World Register of Marine Species as Armina californica (J. G. Cooper, 1863) under AphiaID 558913.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumMollusca
- ClassGastropoda
- OrderNudibranchia
- SuborderArminacea
- FamilyArminidae
- GenusArmina
- SpeciesArmina californica
Named by (J. G. Cooper, 1863)
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Armina californica (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 558913 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.07 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: SeaLifeBase species summary
Where the california armina (armina californica) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (1,365 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 44 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Gastropoda · Order: Nudibranchia · Family: Arminidae · Genus: Armina.
Accepted name: Armina californica · Authority: (J. G. Cooper, 1863) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 558913.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Armina columbiana O'Donoghue, 1924; Armina digueti Pruvot-Fol, 1956; Armina vancouverensis (Bergh, 1876); Pleurophyllidia californica Cooper, 1863; Pleurophyllidia vancouverensis Bergh, 1876.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=558913 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Armina californica. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 7 cm · Depth range: 0–260 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.
SeaLifeBase notes: Assumed maximum length from Ref. 844. Preys on sea pens and the sea pansy Renilla sp. (Ref. 822).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 8384) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Armina-californica.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
1,365 georeferenced occurrence records for Armina californica are published through GBIF from 6 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 95 distinct locations from a sample of 1,365 records, omitting 44 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 (930); Canada (391); Mexico (38); Panama (3); Costa Rica (2).
The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2291819) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2291819&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=558913 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Related in California armina
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Elsewhere in California armina
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Armina californica (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Biology values: SeaLifeBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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