Chromodorid from S.E. Australia

June 26, 2002
From: John Chuk

Dear Bill,
Here is an image of a nudibranch I'm having difficulty identifying. The specimen was photographed in Port Campbell Harbour, Victoria, Australia on the 1st of May 2001. It was found at a depth of 4.5m and measured 10mm in length.

The mantle is somewhat translucent, has a covering of fine white spots, a row of orange spots along the margin, and several orange spots in the central portion. The foot is rounded, extends well beyond the mantle when in motion, and is translucent with fine white spots and a single larger orange spot. The rhinophores are lamellate. Both rhinophores and gills are translucent white in colour.

Is it a juvenile specimen of Chromodoris tasmaniensis? Or a juvenile Chromodoris epicuria? Or could it be Noumea aureopunctata? It appears to have features of all three! Any help with the identity would be greatly appreciated.
Best wishes,
John.

jchuk@giant.net.au

Chuk, J., 2002 (Jun 26) Chromodorid from S.E. Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7297

Dear John,
Your message has forced me to prepare a page on Noumea aureopunctata. I don't know how it missed out before, but at least its here now. If you have a look at that you will see that I consider it can sometimes be nearly impossible to sort out juveniles of the three species you mention from each other externally. N. aureopunctata always has golden yellow spots while the others have spots ranging from yellow to orange. The spots around the mantle edge of N. aureopunctata are usually not round, and usually it is the only one in which the spots actually touch the edge.

The spots in your photo are rounded, orange, and not touching the edge so I don't think it is N. aureopunctata. Of the other two, the faint spots in the middle of the back suggest it may be Chromodoris epicuria, but that is only a considered guess.
best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Jun 26). Comment on Chromodorid from S.E. Australia by John Chuk. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7297

Factsheet

Chromodoris epicuria

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