BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Tenellia adspersa
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Nicola White	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	Dr Richard S.K. Barnes
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	The few British records are from the Bristol Channel and the Fleet in Dorset.
Global distribution	Recorded from the eastern and western North Atlantic, Baltic, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Azov Sea, Caspian Sea, Japan, Pacific coast of USA, Brazil
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	1 to 34 m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	Recorded at depths from 1 to 34 m. The species has been observed to survive and breed in salinities from 50 psu to 5.3 psu. The ranges and ecological features of the nudibranch are very similar to the hydroid Cordylophora caspia and they co-exist everywhere, which suggests some connection. The wide geographic distribution of Tenellia adspersa is probably due to passive transportation of adults and egg masses by Cordylophora colonies on ships.

Substratum preferences	Seagrass Artificial (e.g. metal/wood/concrete) Algae Small boulders Pebbles Cobbles	Physiographic preferences	Estuary Isolated saline water (Lagoon) Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral	Wave exposure	Sheltered Very Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Strong (3-6 kn) Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn)	Salinity	Variable (18-40 psu) Low (<18 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References	Picton & Morrow, 1994, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Antsulevich & Starobogatov, 1991, Anonymous, 1999(s),