Dendrodoris coronata
Kay & Young, 1969

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Dendrodorididae

DISTRIBUTION

Tropical Western Pacific. Indian Ocean?

PHOTO

Koumac, New Caledonia, October 1993, 23mm long alive. PHOTOS: Bill Rudman.

First described from Hawaii and well-known in eastern Australia, these are the first records from New Caledonia. The most characteristic feature is the transverse `crown-like' band of tubercles, (for which it is named), just in front of the gills. This animal has a remarkable resemblance to a small living cowry snail (Cypraeidae).

Reference:
• Kay, E.A. & Young, D.K. (1969). The Doridacea (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science, 23: 172-231.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (April 18) Dendrodoris coronata Kay & Young, 1969. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/dendcoro

Related messages


Dendrodoris coronata in Southern Queensland

July 20, 2005
From: Gary Cobb

Hi Bill,
I thought you and the readers might be interested in a find we made on the weekend at Old Woman Island Queensland Australia, North Reef. When I turned over the small coral encrusted rock I spotted what appeared to be a cowrie. After looking around the surface, two rhinophores popped up! I noticed the band of tubercles in front of the gills. This is Dendrodoris coronata. I see there is not much written about this beautiful animal.

Locality: Old Woman Island - North Reef, Queensland, Australia. Depth: 7 m. Length: 35 mm. 16 July 2005. subtidal. Photographer: Gary Cobb

Is this a new record for this area?
Cheers,
Gary

gary@cobb.com.au

Cobb, Gary, 2005 (Jul 20) Dendrodoris coronata in Southern Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14284

Dear Gary,
It's always nice to get a  record of this species. I say on the Fact Sheet that I think it resembles a cowry so its nice to see someone else sees the resemblance. Without checking all my records I can't say whether it has been recorded from your neck of the woods, but I have found it in New South Wales and the Great Barrier Reef.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Jul 20). Comment on Dendrodoris coronata in Southern Queensland by Gary Cobb. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14284

Dendrodoris coronata from Kerama Islands

April 18, 1999
From: Rie Nakano

Dear Dr.Bill Rudman

Thank you for your kind offer. I'm so happy!
Mr Atsushi Ono will be happy if you post the photos on your site. If you post the photos, please add Mr Atsushi Ono's name.

When the book is published, he will present it for you.

Well, I'd like to hear your suggestion the following image by Mr Atsushi Ono from Kerama Island, near Okinawa.

Mr.Ono thinks it is Dendrodoris sp. but Mr.Cory Pittman said this should be Doriopsilla coronata.

Rie Nakano

rie@street.ne.jp

Nakano, R., 1999 (Apr 18) Dendrodoris coronata from Kerama Islands. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/780

Dear Rie,

It is Dendrodoris coronata Kay & Young, 1969. This species has a remarkable resemblance to a living cowry.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Apr 18). Comment on Dendrodoris coronata from Kerama Islands by Rie Nakano. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/780