Chromodoris striatella
- spotted form

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Chromodorididae

DISTRIBUTION

Indo-West Pacific

PHOTO

UPPER: Lagoon between mainland and Récif de l'Infernet, off Koumac, New Caledonia, 20°34.4'S, 164°13'E, 12m, Silty bottom with dense gorgonian beds 18 October 1993, 2 specimens (13, 16mm long alive), AM C200521.
LOWER: Koumac Beach (=Baie de Ouanap), near Koumac, New Caledonia, 20°34'S, 164°16'E, Mixed soft and hard substrate, grassbeds, algae, 27 October 1993, 19mm long alive, AM C200662.
PHOTOS: Bill Rudman.

Although seemingly quite different from Chromodoris striatella I have seen animals in New Caledonia, both lined and spotted living together, and occasionally with an intermediate pattern in which some of the rows of spots are joined to form partial black and orange lines. If you look at the photo of an almost 'unlined' colour form, the same two pale patches, one in front of the gills, the other behind the rhinophores, can be seen. No major anatomical differences have been found.

It is probable that the recently described Chromodoris mandapamensis is a dark example of this same colour form. See also a photo of an intermediate with lines and spots.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2000 (August 13) Chromodoris striatella - spotted form. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/chrstriavar

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