Re: Green Dendrodoris? from Colombia

September 19, 2001
From: Angel Valdes

Dear Bill and Elianny,
The animal in the photo is clearly Dendrodoris krebsii. For the paper on the Atlantic Dendrodoris (Valdes et al., 1996), I looked at a number of specimens of this species, collected from Brazil to the Caribbean, with very different color patterns, and all of them have an identical anatomy. I found under the same rock specimens with completely different color patterns that belonged to the same species. I am positive that there is a single species of Dendrodoris in the western Atlantic and Caribbean, and not a complex of species.

Reference:
• Valdés, A., Ortea, J., Ávila, C. & Ballesteros, M. 1996. Review of the genus Dendrodoris (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia) in the Atlantic Ocean. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 62: 1-31.

Best regards,
Angel

avaldes@nhm.org

Valdes, A., 2001 (Sep 19) Re: Green Dendrodoris? from Colombia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5289

Thanks Angel,
I agree, that like the Indo-West Pacific species D. fumata and D. nigra, there doesn't seem to be any noticeable anatomical differences between the colour forms of D. krebsii but I don't think we should close out eyes to the possibility that one or more of the colour forms might be a cryptic species. All I was suggesting is that Elianny and her colleagues make a note of any egg masses her animals produce and the food they eat. If nothing else it would be good to be able to say that all the colour forms have the same egg ribbon, the same development type, eat the same sponges etc. Alternatively they may find over time that there is a difference somewhere. Who knows? I think its a good idea to get into the habit of systematically looking for and noting this sort of thing when you are collecting. It means that if in 10 years you discover that one 'species' is in fact two you can check back and see whether the live animals can give you a character you previously did not realise the significance of at the time of collection.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Sep 19). Comment on Re: Green Dendrodoris? from Colombia by Angel Valdes. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5289

Factsheet

Dendrodoris krebsii

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