corange-tip cuthona
Catriona aurantia
Catriona aurantia is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trinchesiidae. It was incorrectly synonymised with Catriona gymnota from the Western Atlantic but shown to be a distinct species by DNA analysis.
7
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catriona_aurantia
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Nudibranchia
Family
Trinchesiidae
Genus
Catriona
corange-tip cuthona belongs to the family Trinchesiidae, order Nudibranchia, within the Gastropoda class.
Species Profile
Catriona aurantia is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trinchesiidae. It was incorrectly synonymised with Catriona gymnota from the Western Atlantic but shown to be a distinct species by DNA analysis.
The orange-tip cuthona faces significant threats from coastal habitat degradation and pollution in its shallow marine environments. Climate change-induced ocean acidification and warming temperatures are altering the delicate marine ecosystems this nudibranch depends on, while coastal development continues to destroy critical intertidal and subtidal habitats.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Rocky intertidal zones and shallow subtidal areas with rich algal growth, typically found on kelp forests, rocky reefs, and tide pools in temperate coastal waters. This nudibranch inhabits depths from the low tide zone to approximately 30 meters, where it feeds on hydroids and other small invertebrates.
Threats
Coastal habitat destruction from development
Marine pollution and water quality degradation
Ocean acidification from climate change
Sea temperature rise affecting prey availability
Sedimentation from coastal runoff
Found in 7 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). corange-tip cuthona (Catriona aurantia). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/corange-tip-cuthona