Chromodoris spp.
miscellaneous white-spotted species
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Chromodorididae
A place for unidentified, possibly unnamed, white-spotted species, apparently of the genus Chromodoris. See my message [#13260] on Pease's white and yellow-spotted species.
Authorship detailsRudman, W.B., 2006 (June 20) Chromodoris spp. miscellaneous white-spotted species. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/chrowhitespot
Related messages
Re: Chromodoris vibrata? from Tuamotu, Society Ids
June 20, 2006
From: Gustav Paulay
Concerning message #16879:
Dear Bill,
I considered C. vibrata, but it does not fit the species well. I just collected a new animal. It does not vibrate its gills (though it does undulate the mantle skirt), and lacks a purple spot on the underside of the anterior mantle. It also seems to differ from the Hawaiian animals illustrated on the forum in not having the purple margin scalloped, and having white gills and rhinophores. I am familiar with Chelonaplysilla and although I am also trying to document the sponge fauna here, have not yet seen that species. The Chromodoris was not on a host. I have taken genetic samples (as well as a morphological pickle), so will be able to compare it with the Hawaiian animals in the future with DNA.
Cheers,
Gustav
paulay@flmnh.ufl.edu
Paulay, G., 2006 (Jun 20) Re: Chromodoris vibrata? from Tuamotu, Society Ids. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16911Thanks Gustav,
I think I'll start a page from miscellaneous unidentified white-spotted species of Chromodoris. There is a possibility this is Chromodoris albopustulosa or another of Pease's white and yellow-spotted species [message #13260] but untangling those names may prove impossible.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Chromodoris vibrata? from Tuamotu, Society Ids
June 16, 2006
From: Gustav Paulay
Dear Bill
Do you know what this Chromodoris is? It is fairly common in the Tuamotu and Society Islands, out during the day.
Locality: Tikehau Atoll, 1-3m, French Polynesia, Pacific, 8 October 2001, under wharf at night. Length: 2-3 cm. Photographer: Gustav Paulay.
Cheers,
Gustav
paulay@flmnh.ufl.edu
Paulay, G., 2006 (Jun 16) Chromodoris vibrata? from Tuamotu, Society Ids. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16879Dear Gustav,
This is a nice continuation of Erwin Koehler's recent message [#16794]. Your animal looks like another form of one variable species, which I suspect may be Chromodoris vibrata. There are a number of special characters that C. vibrata possesses. It would be interesting to know if this French Polynesian animal also has them.
For example would you recall if it wiggles its gills rhythmically? This is the reason the species is called 'vibrata'. From the Forum, I am pretty sure C. vibrata feeds on the deep reddish purple sponge Chelonaplysilla violacea. Perhaps if you have many photos of this species you could check for the presence of such a sponge, which usually forms an encrusting layer over hard surfaces. Finally, if we are lucky you may have a photo of the underside of the anterior part of the mantle skirt. It would be nice to know if in the French Polynesian animal, there is a deep purple patch on the underside of the anterior mantle skirt.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Unidentified chromodorids from French Polynesia
June 10, 2006
From: Erwin Koehler
Dear Bill,
Do you know a name for this Chomodorids from French Polynesia? I think they are 2 different species.
Locality: French Polynesia, Pacific Ocean, unrecorded. Length: unrecorded. Photographer: Meketa Pihatarioe.
Regards
Erwin
Erwin@Philippine-Sea-Slugs.com
Koehler, E., 2006 (Jun 10) Unidentified chromodorids from French Polynesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16794
Dear Erwin,
French Polynesia is sort of on the eastern fringes of the Indo-West Pacific faunal region and there seem to be some strange things happening, at least amongst the chromodorids. At present I am unwilling to consider each strange colour pattern as representing a new species, because there is evidence to suggest that we have considerable colour variation occurring here amongst more widespread species. Until we know more about the fauna of this region, and what variability occurs, I think it would be premature to start naming new species. For example, these two could well be variants of one species, or they could be distinct. For example, the lower one reminds me of a juvenile Risbecia tryoni. It lacks purple spots and purple markings on the gills and rhinophores, but that could be a genetic abnormality or local variant.
Similarly, the upper one could be Chromodoris vibrata.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
