Life Habits
Acanthodoris lutea feeds on encrusting bryozoans. It turns the chemicals received from the bryozoan food into a noxious metabolite which is toxic to possible predators (Morris et al. 1980).
This species is aposomatically colored, warning predators of this toxic deterrent. If you handle this dorid you will smell the deterrent chemical on your fingers: it has the pungent aroma of sandalwood.
Read more about this topic: Orange-peel Doris
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And was come after like Eurydice
And brought down safely from the upper regions;
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I can waste as I please on whom I please.”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
“Varis Shah says habits don’t die even if we are cut into pieces.”
—Varis Shah (18th cent.)