Peltodoris marmorata
(Bergh, 1898)

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

DISTRIBUTION

South America - west coast

PHOTO

Antofagasta region, northern Chile. Depth approx 60ft. Photo: Marcelo Krause.

Mantle covered in small and simple rounded tubercles. Some of the larger tubercles are surrounded by smaller ones. The raised rhinophore and gill sheaths are tuberculate. There are 6-8 large multipinnate gills. The background colour is greyish with several large blackish spots on each side. In some specimens these spots are very large covering most of the mantle and giving the mantle a very dark appearance. Valdes & Muniain consider this species to belong to the genus Peltodoris on the basis of no caryophyllidia on the mantle, and the anatomical features noted below. This species has a complicated taxonomic and nomenclatural history, which may still not be completely resolved. See also my discussion below.

"Anisodoris rudberghi Marcus and Marcus, 1967 and Anisodoris variolata (d'Orbigny, 1837) are transferred to the genus Peltodoris due to the presence of a smooth labial cuticle, a notched and grooved anterior border of the foot, oral tentacles and a prostate with two portions. Since Anisodoris rudberghi is no longer regarded as a member of Anisodoris it has to be replaced by its senior synonym Anisodoris marmorata Bergh, 1898 (in the binomen Peltodoris marmorata), which was previously replaced on grounds of secondary homonymy with Archidoris marmorata Bergh, 1881" - Valdes & Muniain, 2002

References:
• Schroedl, M (1997a) Range extensions of Magellanic Nudibranchs (Opisthobranchia) into the Peruvian faunal province. The Veliger, 40(1): 38-42.
• Schroedl, M. (1997b) On the morphology of the Magellanic nudibranch Anisodoris fontaini (D’Orbigny, 1837), and its synonymy with A. tessellata Bergh, 1898. The Veliger 40: 228-233.
• Schroedl, M. (2000) Taxonomic revision of the common South American nudibranch Anisodoris fontaini (D’Orbigny, 1837), with discussion of its systematic placement. Journal of Molluscan Studies 66: 49-61.
• Valdés, A. & Muniain, C. (2002). Revision and taxonomic reassessment of Magellanic species assigned to Anisodoris Bergh, 1898 (Nudibranchia: Doridoidea). Journal of Molluscan Studies, 68: 345-351

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (December 30) Peltodoris marmorata (Bergh, 1898). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/peltmarm

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