Hoplodoris grandiflora

October 23, 2003
From: Dr Shireen Fahey


PHOTO: Hoplodoris grandiflora A. Palau (CASIZ 109746) 40 mm. Photo taken by T.M. Gosliner. E. Hawaii (CASIZ 075106) 54 mm. Photo taken by T.M. Gosliner. [From Fahey & Gosliner, 2003: Fig 1]

To accompany my message about our generic review, here is some information on Hoplodoris grandiflora. Photos of 2 Indian Ocean specimens are in a separate message.

We consider Doris grandiflora Pease, 1860, Doris grandifloriger Abraham, 1877, Hoplodoris desmoparypha Bergh, 1880 and Carminodoris mauritiana Bergh, 1891 to be synonyms of Hoplodoris grandiflora (Pease, 1860)

The body is oval, flat and the notum is covered with large, rounded tubercles that decrease in size towards the mantle edge. The rhinophores are closely-set and stout, with a knob-shaped lamellar region (10–15 lamellae) that terminates in a point. The low rhinophore sheaths have an irregular edge and small tubercles on the sides. The six main gill leaves are tripinnate, feathery and the tubercle-covered sheath has a scalloped edge.

The ground color of the notum is light to medium mottled brown or tan. Lateral to either side of the dorsal median on some specimens are evenly spaced clumps of darker tubercles. Some specimens have dark spots near the mantle edge or have areas of white tubercles that appear as perpendicular rays along the mantle edge. The clumps of dark tubercles merge on some specimens into a dark ring. On the knobby tops of some tubercles, the brown coloration appears worn off and whitish coloration is visible. The gill leaves are lighter tan than the body color, with a frosted appearance on the tips. The rhinophores are also lighter tan than the body and the tips are white. On the ventral side of some preserved specimens, dark spots are sprinkled randomly. The digitate oral tentacles have also retained some of the dark speckles, and the oral tube has dark coloration. The foot is notched at the anterior end. Grows to at least 55mm long.

Reference:
• Fahey, S. J. & Gosliner, T. M. (2003) Mistaken identities: On the Discodorididae genera Hoplodoris Bergh, 1880 and Carminodoris Bergh, 1889 (Opisthobranchia, Nudibranchia). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 54(10): 169-208.

Dr Shireen Fahey

sfahey@calacademy.org

Fahey, S.J., 2003 (Oct 23) Hoplodoris grandiflora. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11313

Thanks Shireen,
Bill Rudman

Factsheet

Hoplodoris grandiflora

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