Dendrodoris denisoni from South Africa

April 19, 2000
From: Valda Fraser

Dear Bill
I read in Debelius' book that Dendrodoris denisoni favours cold water.  I have seen this nudibranch in warm water i.e. 22 degrees Celsius.  ???? !!!!
Perhaps you could comment.

Locality:  South coast KwaZulu-Natal SOUTH AFRICA. Hibberdene - 20m
Date:  Oct 1999
Size:  35mm
Regards
Valda Fraser.

iti04937@mweb.co.za

Fraser, V., 2000 (Apr 19) Dendrodoris denisoni from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2291

Dear Valda,
To quote the English poet Pope: "a little learning is a dangerous thing ..". I am afraid Debelius doesn't give us references for his statements, so there is no way of checking them.

If you look at my page on Dendrodoris denisoni you will see that there is either one species or a complex of similarly coloured species throughout the tropical and temperate Indo-West Pacific. The earliest name, Dendrodoris denisoni, refers to a fairly drab coloured form usually found in estuaries in eastern Australia. The colourful form you have sent a photo of is certainly common in tropical waters. I have found it in very warm (tepid) water in Tanzania, and it was described by Alder & Hancock (1864) from India which is hardly 'cool waters.' We have photos here in the Forum of the form he illustrates from New Zealand, which used to be known as Dendrodoris mammosa.

At this stage I am treating them all as one species but I can't emphasise enough how important it is that we keep an open mind on identifications. To me, the sign of a good scientist and taxonomist is that they are not afraid to say 'I am not sure' or 'I don't know'. Such answers may be infuriating if you are trying to label your photographs, but they are a better reflection on the state of our knowledge. They also leave us with the exciting possibility that we can make new discoveries.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Apr 19). Comment on Dendrodoris denisoni from South Africa by Valda Fraser. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2291

Factsheet

Dendrodoris denisoni

Related messages

  1. Re: Dendrodoris denisoni or D. gunnamatta
    From: Atkinson, L. & D., November 12, 2009
  2. A species of Halgerda?
    From: Nick Chapman, August 18, 2009
  3. Re: Dendrodoris denisoni from Sydney
    From: Jessica Herder, August 1, 2008
  4. Dendrodoris denisoni from South Africa
    From: Peter Small, April 11, 2008
  5. Dendrodoris denisoni from Rockingham WA
    From: Mick Tait, August 13, 2007
  6. Another Dendrodoris denisoni from Thailand
    From: Mr Philip Mason, April 13, 2007
  7. Dendrodoris denisoni from Thailand
    From: Mr Philip Mason, April 12, 2007
  8. Dendrodoris denisoni from Townsville, Queensland
    From: Melanie Wood, December 12, 2006
  9. Bizarre behavior of Dendrodoris denisoni
    From: Dong Bum Koh, June 23, 2006
  10. Dendrodoris denisoni from Bali, Indonesia
    From: Stefan Harrieder, May 28, 2005
  11. The eggs of Dendrodoris denisoni in S. Korea
    From: Dong Bum Koh, May 10, 2005
  12. Dendrodoris denisoni from Singapore
    From: Lim Han Peng, April 22, 2005
  13. Dendrodoris denisoni from Reunion island
    From: Philibert Bidgrain, February 22, 2005
  14. Dendrodoris denisoni from Northern NSW
    From: Denis Riek, March 15, 2004
  15. Dendrodoris denisoni from New Zealand
    From: Mark Burnett, January 8, 2004
  16. Dendrodoris denisoni from Thailand
    From: Nat Yisunsri, July 11, 2003
  17. Dendrodoris denisoni from Indonesia
    From: Tony White, May 23, 2003
  18. Dendrodoris denisoni and starfish
    From: Dong Bum, Koh, February 21, 2003
  19. Dendrodoris denisoni from New Zealand
    From: Mark Burnett, February 21, 2003
  20. Dendrodoris denisoni from Chek Jawa, Singapore
    From: Ria Tan, January 30, 2003
  21. Dendrodoris denisoni from Port Stephens
    From: Allan Saben, January 17, 2003
  22. Dendrodoris denisoni from New Zealand
    From: Ian Simpson, December 12, 2002
  23. Dendrodoris denisoni from Taiwan
    From: Connie, August 15, 2002
  24. Dendrodoris denisoni from Hawaii
    From: Rita Bishop, July 16, 2002
  25. Hoplodoris?? from the Philippines
    From: Erwin Koehler, November 14, 2001
  26. Behaviour of Dendrodoris denisoni in New Zealand
    From: Liz Buckley, September 24, 2001
  27. Juvenile Dendrodoris denisoni from Queensland
    From: Nerida Wilson, June 8, 2001
  28. Dendrodoris denisoni from Port Stephens
    From: Stuart Hutchison, August 19, 2000
  29. Dendrodoris denisoni or D. gunnamatta
    From: P.Zylstra & H.Rothenfluh, June 22, 2000
  30. Dendrodoris denisoni from Sydney
    From: Stephanie Clark, January 3, 2000
  31. Dendrodoris denisoni from New Zealand
    From: Ross Armstrong, December 13, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages