Digidentis kulonba
(Burn, 1966)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Chromodorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Known only from southeastern Australia [Victoria and nthn Tasmania].
PHOTO
Upper: Mersey Bluff, Devonport, nthn Tasmania, 4 m, 19 November 1985, 50 mm long alive, AM C148240. Lower: Sister's Is, NW Tasmania, 15 m, 18 Aug 1985, 23 mm long alive, AM C147652. Photos: Bill Rudman.
The body is relatively high and elongate and there is a reasonably wide mantle overlap all around the body. The posterior part of the foot extends some way behind the mantle, The mantle glands form a thin band alla round the mantle edge with some dendritic branching extending some distance in across the mantle skirt. The opaque white glands are clearly visible against the translucent whitish back ground colour. The edge of the mantle can be irregularly scalloped, The gills are simple. The whole body is translucent white, including the mantle, gills and the rhinophores. Around the edge of the mantle is a thin band of milky yellow, more visible in some specimens than others. A similar band is found around the edge of the foot. It grows to at least 50 mm long alive.
The foregut and radula morphology are quite different f rom species of Chromodoris and Hypselodoris, the genus in which this species was first placed. The oral tube is long and large, more than three times the length of the buccal bulb, and the shape of the radular teeth, with the tip bearing four recurved denticles at the tip much like the fingers of a half-clenched fist, gave rise the the genus name Digidentis. [digi = finger; dentis = teeth ]. At present the three known species of this genus are found only in southeastern Australia.
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Burn, R., (1966). On three new Chromodoridinae from Australia (Opisthobranchia: Nudibranchia). The Veliger, 8: 191-197.
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Rudman, W. B. (1984). The Chromodorididae (Opistobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: A review of the genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 81: 115-273
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Rudman, W.B. (1985). The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris aureomarginata, C. verrieri and C. fidelis colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 83: 241-299.
Rudman, W.B., 2006 (July 11) Digidentis kulonba (Burn, 1966). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/digikulo
Related messages
Digidentis kulonba? from New South Wales, Australia
January 26, 2010
From: Kim Sebo
Dear Bill,
I found this nudibranch at a depth of 41 m, outside Jervis Bay, NSW. It appears to be Digidentis kulonba, but it is from somewhat further north than the reported range of this species of NW Tasmania/Victoria. Water temp was 17 C.
It appears to be uncommon; it is a rather conspicuous creature, and I have never seen it before in hundreds of dives in this area. It appeared all white, but I was unable to see or photograph the foot at all.
Locality: Point Perpendicular, Jervis Bay, 41 metres, NSW, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 29 November 2008, rock/reef. Length: ~40 mm. Photographer: Kim Sebo.
Regards,
Kim Sebo
kim@mso.anu.edu.au
Sebo, K.M., 2010 (Jan 26) Digidentis kulonba? from New South Wales, Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23134
Dear Kim,
Certainly from external appearances, in particular its colour and the arrangement of the opaque white mantle glands around the edge of the mantle, this appears to be D. kulonba. We know little about many of these animals so it would not be unusual to find it living in New South Wales.
The pink substance it is sitting on appears to be a darwinellid sponge which is quite common in south eastern Australia. This is of interest beacuse at present we know nothing about what D. kulonba eats.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Digidentis kulonba from south eastern Australia
July 12, 2006
From: Perry Davis
Dear Bill,
I saw this nudibranch about four weeks ago at 11am Queenscliff (cottage reef) It was in about 4 m of water and was active It resembles many nudibranchs but its lack of any markings has me puzzled From these photos are you able to identify this one for me
Locality: Port Philip Bay, 4metres, Victoria Australia, Port Phillip Bay, 31 May 2006, reef. Length: 60-75mm. Photographer: Perry A Davis.
Regards
Perry Davis
perryadavis@bigpond.com
Davis,P.A., 2006 (Jul 12) Digidentis kulonba from south eastern Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17056
Dear Perry,
This is Digidentis kulonba which belongs to the family Chromodorididae which contains some of the most colourful species You'll see in the close-up of the posterior end of one of your photos that there is a pale yellow border to both the mantle and the foot. This is a species found only in south-eastern Australia, and until now I haven't had it represented on the Forum, so it's an interesting addition.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
