More photos of Chromodoris cf regalis

Dear Jazmin,

Thanks for the extra photos. Interestingly, I think you might have two different species here. The juvenile [Photo B] has much the same colour pattern as your earlier photo, with purple-red lines down the white rhinophores and purple-red edge to the translucent white gills. The foot seems to be white with purplish dusting at the posterior tip.

On the other hand, the large animal [Photo A] has a yellowish background colour, the rhinophores are dark orange with a red-purple tip and the gills are yellow with no sign of a red or purple edge. Also the foot is yellow with a thin white edge, with some purple at the posterior tip.

It is possible that the animal changes colour as it grows, but you will need to consider the real possibility that your have two very similarly coloured species living together. Chromodorid nudibranchs are well-known for having groups of very similar looking species. I guess what you will need to do is check some more animals and see if you can find individuals with intermediate colour patterns or to see if you can find animals laying egg ribbons. If they are different there is a possibility that they have different egg ribbons. All I can say is that neither colour form looks like C. regalis. If you are collecting specimens it is vital that you keep ones you photograph separately, so that if you later find anatomical differences you know which anatomy fits eats colour form.

In the yellow animal you can see the branched whitish mantle glands on the left side near the gills.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman