Chromodoris vibrata
(Pease, 1860)

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Chromodorididae

DISTRIBUTION

Hawaii and tropical north Pacific.

PHOTO

Hawaii. Upper photo showing two animals feeding on bluish-purple encrusting sponge [see inset]. Note large white patch where overlying sponge has been removed from white substrate. In lower photo note ramifying mantle glands around mantle edge. PHOTOS: Scott Johnson

Named because of its vibrating gills which rhythmically wave much like species of Thorunna, this species has very restricted distribution, known only in Hawaii except for Scott Johnson's report below of juveniles from the Marshall Ids, and Bob Bolland's photo from Okinawa.

  • Pease, W.H. (1860) Descriptions of new species of mollusca from the Sandwich Islands. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 28: 18-36.
Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (January 8) Chromodoris vibrata (Pease, 1860). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/chrovibr

Related messages


Original illustration of Doris vibrata Pease 1860

March 7, 2005
From: Bill Rudman

Here is another message concerning the white and purple-spotted chromodorids described from Hawaii by Pease and Garrett. In this one I post the original illustration of Chromodoris vibrata. 

Doris vibrata  was originally described (Pease, 1860) without an illustration. Bergh (1880: Pl. B, fig 18- 21) subsequently published a painting by Andrew Garrett, which we assume was available to Pease.

It is characterised by the rythmically vibrating gills, commented on by Pease, and on which he based its name.

  • Pease, W.H. (1860) Descriptions of new species of mollusca from the Sandwich Islands. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 28: 18-36.
  • Bergh, L.S.R. (1880) Malacologische Untersuchungen. In: C.G. Semper, Reisen im Archipel der Philippinen, Wissenschaftliche Resultate. Band 2, Suppl. 1, 1-78, Pls.A-F.

Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Mar 7) Original illustration of Doris vibrata Pease 1860. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13204

Species with purple under anterior margin

March 29, 2003
From: Scott Johnson

Hi Bill,
I think you can add Chromodoris vibrata to the list of species with purple under their anterior margin. This is not the best photo, but shows a 25mm individual from Hawaii with its anterior margin flapping up and back, exposing the underside.

Scott

johnson@kmr.ll.mit.edu

Johnson, S., 2003 (Mar 29) Species with purple under anterior margin. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9521

Thanks Scott,
I think I'll have to make a special page for this list or it will get lost. Interestingly from your earlier photos of this species, it eats the same dark blue sponge I mention is the food of C. hintuanensis and C. geometrica, two other species with purple on the underside of the anterior mantle.
Cheers,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Mar 29). Comment on Species with purple under anterior margin by Scott Johnson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9521

Re: Chromodoris vibrata? from Hachijo Island , Japan

November 21, 2001
From: Scott Johnson


Hi Bill,

The excellent photos of the Hachijo Island Chromodoris certainly look like C. vibrata, although the margin lacks the blue blotches I saw on similar sized specimens. Attached is a 9mm individual from Enewetak, and according to my notes, a 4mm individual found a few days later possessed similar coloration.

Scott

johnson@kmr.ll.mit.edu

Johnson, S., 2001 (Nov 21) Re: Chromodoris vibrata? from Hachijo Island , Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5695

Thanks Scott,
Bill Rudman

Chromodoris vibrata? from Hachijo Island , Japan

November 10, 2001
From: Nishina Masayoshi

Dear Rudman,
This animal may be Chromodoris vibrata. I've never seen this at Hachijo Island before. The coloration of the mantle edge is simpler and this animal seems to have a very wider white region on the mantle then Bob Bolland's and Scott Johnson's. This animal is only 5mm length so this is may be juvenile of C. vibrata. So those may not have developed these characteristics.

Date: 3 Nov 2001
Loc: Hachijo Island Japan
Length: 5mm
Depth: 4m

Photo by Nishina Chikako

Best Regards,
Nishina Masayoshi

nishina@wips.co.jp

Nishina, M., 2001 (Nov 10) Chromodoris vibrata? from Hachijo Island , Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5632

Dear Nishina,
Thanks for sending Chikako's interesting photos. I am very impressed with the beautiful photos she is taking of such small animals. It certainly looks very similar to C. vibrata and perhaps Bob or Scott have seen juveniles with the same colour pattern. It is also possible it is a colour variant, like the photos of Glossodoris rufomarginata with a very wide white marginal band that Fumio Kihara recently sent to the Forum.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Nov 10). Comment on Chromodoris vibrata? from Hachijo Island , Japan by Nishina Masayoshi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5632

Chromodoris vibrata from Okinawa

January 13, 2001
From: Bob Bolland

Hi Bill,
Following Scott Johnson's recent message on the Forum, I thought I'd add yet another image of Chromodoris vibrata, which will add Okinawa to its known distribution.
Data:
RFB # 2957. TL: 24mm. 3m, on a live stony coral reef at the edge of the reef drop-off.
Horseshoe Cliffs, Okinawa (26°30.0'N, 127°50.9'E) 24 April 1992.
This is the only record I have of it from Okinawa.

Cheers,
Bob

bollandr@rapid-link.ne.jp

Bolland, R.F., 2001 (Jan 13) Chromodoris vibrata from Okinawa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3513

Thanks Bob,
Bill Rudman

Chromodoris vibrata from Hawaii

January 11, 2001
From: Scott Johnson

Hi Bill,
Here are some images of Chromodoris vibrata to add to the Forum. This seems primarily to be a Hawaiian species, although I have found two juveniles here in the Marshall Islands. It gets its name from its habit of continually waving its gills, like some species of Noumea and Thorunna. In Hawaii, where all these photos were taken, the species is not particularly uncommon, usually found exposed on subtidal reefs. The two in the upper photo were underneath a rock feeding on an encrusting dark purple-black sponge; they were doing a good job of clearing the sponge off the white substrate. In the lower right photo, the light caught it just right to show the mantle glands near the margins.

Scott

johnson@kmr.ll.mit.edu

Johnson, S., 2001 (Jan 11) Chromodoris vibrata from Hawaii. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3435

Thanks Scott,
Bill Rudman.