Chromodoris lekker or C. decora from Sri Lanka

September 22, 2007
From: Anouk Houben

Found these 2 Chromodoris decora on the reefs off Negombo on the West-Coast of Sri Lanka. Although the coloration is identical, the median line shows multiple branches in the first one, and a smooth line in the second. In both animals the median line does not bifurcate, but runs up to the gills, which it encircles.

Locality: Second reef, Negombo, 14m, Western Province, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean, 5 April 2007, Silty reef. Length: 3cm. Photographer: Anouk Houben.

Anouk Houben

nashiman@lankacom.net

Houben, A., 2007 (Sep 22) Chromodoris lekker or C. decora from Sri Lanka. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20757

Dear Anouk,

This is a very interesting find. It has links to the common South Pacific form of Chromodoris decora with a plain white median line that forks posteriorly, and with the 'Chromodoris ndukuei' form with multiple branching off the median white line [see message #20717].  You mention the white line encircling the gills in your animal. The South Pacific form does this as well but the line is not so close to the gill pocket. My first thought when I saw your photos was how close this looks to the South African Chromodoris lekker. If you look at photos from Reunion Island [#18783] there is a clear link between the white blotches on the mantle and the white lines in your animal. In fact in the lower left photo the blotched have aggregated to form parts of the median line, the outer lines and the lateral branches.

Apart from the obvious colour similarities both C. lekker and C. decora are linked by the white pigment on the rhinophores, the white line up each translucent gill and the white median line on the posterior tip of the foot. I will also need to check Kelaart's early descriptions of species from Ceylon [Sri Lanka] to see if perhaps it already has a name.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Sep 22). Comment on Chromodoris lekker or C. decora from Sri Lanka by Anouk Houben. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20757

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