Ardeadoris egretta? from Japan
October 30, 2002
From: Kyoko Takahashi
Dear Bill,
I took this photograph on Izu Oshima in Japan. I think this is similar to Ardeacoris egretta. But this nudibranch differs as it has yellow body which is
transparent., The gills also differ in being yellow. I have seen the same nudibranch 4 years before, at a different divesite.
Divesite: Akinohama
Depth: 15m
Length: 30~40mm
Date: October 20, 2002
Thank you,
Kyoko Takahashi.
adr.o-is@beach.ocn.ne.jp
Takahashi, K., 2002 (Oct 30) Ardeadoris egretta? from Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8284Dear Kyoko,
Thanks for this interesting photo. As you say, it looks quite like Ardeadoris egretta, but has some differences. I suyspect it is eating the yellow sponge in the background of your photo. It is certainly not a species known to me. I am pretty sure it is a chromodorid, but many chromodorids are difficult to put in a genus unless we know their anatomy. The general shape, and long thin gills are similar to Ardeadoris egretta, but there are species of Glossodoris which look like this as well. I will take a guess and call it Glossodoris sp. 13 until we know more about it.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
