Chromodoris charlottae
(Schroedl, 1999)

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Chromodorididae

DISTRIBUTION

Red Sea.

PHOTO

Sharm el Sheikh - Anemone City, Egypt. Red Sea. Depth: 12 mtrs. Length: 35 mm. 6 May 2005. Coral / Sandy. Photographer: Mente Suzenaar

The mantle is a translucent purplish brown, usually with closely packed small orange spots, each ringed with dark brown. Also present are fewer, larger white spots, sometimes ringed with pale blue and sometimes with a yellow patch in the white. Around the mantle edge are a number of coloured bands. Right at the edge is a cream yellow band, then a black, then a bluish purple, and then an orange band. The orange band is more diffuse than the other bands, and is more irregular, most of its colour being derived from the underlying mantle glands which also lie under the purplish blue band. The underside of the mantle, the sides of the body and the foot are all pure white, except for the cream yellow, black and purplish blue bands at the mantle edge showing through from the dorsum.

The gills are quadrangular in cross-section, if somewhat inflated, and the outer face and lamellate sides are opaque white with some orane bown markings. The inner face of each gill is orange brown with a scattering of white spots. The rhinophores are translucent orange, with a white line up the anterior midline of the club, some white speckling on the sides of the club, and a blue tip.

Schroedl reports that the gills vibrate rhythmically, and photos on the Forum [message #13872] show the mantle flaps rythmically as well [see mantle flapping Fact Sheet]. It is reported to grow to 60 mm in length. In a separate message [#13868] I discuss why I consider this species is more appropriately placed in the genus Chromodoris.

This species was illustrated by Debelius (1997, p. 215, above: Chromodoris sp.), and by Yonow (1989: 296; pl. 10) Chromodoris indet. In Schroedl's description it is reported to grow to 60mm in length. Known on the Forum until 30 May 2005 as Glossodoris charlottae.

  • Schroedl, M. (1999) Glossodoris charlottae, a new chromodorid nudibranch from the Red Sea (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia). Vita Marina, 46(3-4): 89-94.
Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2005 (May 30) Chromodoris charlottae (Schroedl, 1999). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/gloschar

Related messages

  1. Chromodoris? charlottae from Eygpt
    From: Kamal El Tawil, September 26, 2005
  2. Correct generic placement of Glossodoris charlottae
    From: Bill Rudman, May 30, 2005
  3. Mantle - flapping in Chromodoris charlottae
    From: Bill Rudman, May 30, 2005
  4. Glossodoris charlottae from Red Sea
    From: Bill Rudman, February 1, 2000
  5. Chromodoris species, which one?
    From: Gordon T. Smith, March 15, 1999
  6. Glossodoris? from the Red Sea
    From: Michael Schroedl, January 14, 1999

Show factsheet and all related messages