Discodoris boholiensis
Bergh, 1877
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Dorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Indo-West Pacific.
PHOTO
Paagoumène, near Koumac, New Caledonia, intertidal, coral platform with coral blocks, October 1993, 59mm long. Lower photos showing rhinophores, skin texture, narrow visceral ridge and gills. PHOTOS: Bill Rudman.
This species is characterised by the narrow visceral hump, (which forms a narrow median ridge from the rhinophores to the gills), and wide mantle skirt, often autotomised when disturbed. Risbec's illustrations of an apparently misshapen specimen from New Caledonia, records the twisted and distorted shape the leathery, semi-rigid, but thin mantle skirt attains when nestling in coral crevices. Colour usually translucent white with dark brown patches, the amount of dark brown varying beween individuals. The gill and rhinophore pockets are raised. The rhinophore stalk and club are dark brown with a white line up the posterior midline of the stalk and along the anterior (upper) surface of the club. The dark brown gills have a distinct pattern of white lines.
Reference:
• Bergh, L.S.R. (1877). Malacologische Untersuchungen. In: C.G. Semper, Reisen im Archipel der Philippinen, Wissenschaftliche Resultate. Band 2, Heft 12: 495-546, Pls. 58-61.
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (September 21) Discodoris boholiensis Bergh, 1877. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/discboho
Related messages
Discodoris boholiensis from the Philippines
July 11, 2004
From: Choi, Sungsoon
Hi Dr. Bill Rudman.
I am underwater photographer and magazine editor of Scuba Diver Magazine in Korea.
Recently I received some images of seaslug, I hope to introduce our readers.
But I can not identify two of them.
This photo was taken at Puerto Galera, Philippines.
Bst regards,
Choi, Sungsoon
diver@scuba-diver.net
Sungsoon, C., 2004 (Jul 11) Discodoris boholiensis from the Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12677Dear Choi,
This is Discodoris boholiensis. It has a very thin mantle skirt which gives it the appearance of a large flatworm.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman
Discodoris boholiensis from Malaysia
July 8, 2002
From: Kheong Sann Chan
Here are some more photos from Pulau Dayang off the east coast of west Malaysia. We came across this large nudi at the end of the morning dive. This one was moving like it had somewhere to be as well. It's close to a foot, maybe 25+cm long.
Location: Dayang, Dayang house reef
Upper Photo: 9 June, 0800hrs, Depth: 8m
Kheong
kschan@mail.dsi.nus.edu.sg
Dear Kheong,
This is Discodoris boholiensis, and is nNamed after Bohol Island, in the Philippines, where it was first found. It grows quite large bit I can't say I have seen one quite 25cm long. These dorids are usually hidden during the day so its fast crawling may have been because it was trying to find somewhere to hide. Of course it's little brain can't actually think about such things, but many animals that hide during the day are what is called photokinetic - that is they move quite fast when they are in the light, and stop or slow down considerably when they are in the dark. This helps to get them to a dark place, which ususally means a shaded overhang or crevice where can hide. The mantle of Discodoris boholiensis is very thin and flexible, which allows it to curl up into some very weird shapes so that it can nestle into crevices in rocks and coral colonies away from potential predators.
I have included a closeup of one rhinophore to show its characteristic shape and colour, and the bumpy texture of the mantle.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Discodoris boholiensis from Thailand
September 18, 2001
From: Narongpon Sittitaweepat
Dear Bill
I can't identify this nudibranch. Songpol Amnartsingh found it at Ko Sak Pattaya Thailand . He don't record date and depth.
Thank you
Narongpon Sittitaweepat
ning@talaythai.com
Sittitaweepat, N., 2001 (Sep 18) Discodoris boholiensis from Thailand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5273Dear Narongpon,
This is Discodoris boholiensis.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Discodoris boholiensis from Papua New Guinea
August 24, 2000
From: Stuart Hutchison
Dear Bill,
Here is a Discodoris boholiensis that Melinda found at Lawadi (pronounced Lavadi and also known as Dinah's [Halstead] Beach) in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. It was located in March 1999 in 2m on a stony bottom and was about 30mm long.
Stuart Hutchison
hutchco@tpg.com.au
Hutchison, S., 2000 (Aug 24) Discodoris boholiensis from Papua New Guinea. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2875Thanks Stuart,
Bill Rudman.
Discodoris boholienis from Vanuatu
December 19, 1999
From: Vinka Stenhouse
Dear Bill,
Is this Discodoris boholienis? I found it in Espiritu Santo Is., Vanuatu, 1997, crawling over sand in the early morning. Intertidal. It was 7cm long.
Yours sincerely,
Vinka Stenhouse.
Santo.
Vanuatu.
Dear Vinka,
Yes it is Discodoris boholiensis. the very narrow median 'crest' and the small often brown tipped tubercles on the mantle are quite characteristic.
Bill Rudman.
Discodoris boholiensis from Philippines
September 22, 1999
From: Erwin Koehler
Hi Bill,
There is no Discodoris boholiensis Bergh, 1877 in your species list -
here it comes...
Size: 3 cm, Depth: 8 m, November 17, 1998, Philippines, Panglao Is., Housereef divesite, nightdive
Erwin
Medslugs.Koehler@t-online.de
Koehler, E., 1999 (Sep 22) Discodoris boholiensis from Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1359Thanks Erwin,
You were right - there was no Discodoris boholiensis page. There is now.
Cheers,
Bill Rudman.
