Re: Photos of Chromodoris clenchi

October 15, 2000
From: Angel Valdes


Dear Bill and Dave,

The animal in the upper photo of Dave's message is Chromodoris clenchi, but the animal in the lower photo is Chromodoris binza. [see copies of photos on right] I collected specimens of many different sizes in Cuba and the color pattern is very consistent. In the paper by Ortea et al. (1994) there is a diagram of the ontogenetic variability of the color in these two species (Bill, may be you could scan it and post it in the Forum). Both species have in common an hourglass yellow pattern on the dorsum, which is absent in C. neona. However, C. clenchi has well-defined, rounded and violet dorsal spots, surrounded by thin red lines, whereas C. binza has a much more irregular pattern with a red network of lines surrounding irregular pale blue areas. The two animals in the photos sent by Dave seem to be adults, their color pattern is very complex.

All the best,

Angel

avaldes@calacademy.org

Valdes, A., 2000 (Oct 15) Re: Photos of Chromodoris clenchi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3176

Dear Angel,
Thanks for the clarification. With all the misidentifications in the literature I have found it all a bit comfusing. I have added here smaller copies of Jeff Hamann's photos from Dave's message and have scanned, as you suggest, the comparative diagram (Fig 5) from Ortea et al. (1994).

References: Ortea, J., Valdés, A. & Espinosa, J. 1994. North Atlantic nudibranchs of the Chromodoris clenchi colour group (Opisthobranchia: Chromododorididae). Journal of Molluscan Studies, 60: 237-248.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Oct 15). Comment on Re: Photos of Chromodoris clenchi by Angel Valdes. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3176

Factsheet

Chromodoris binza

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