Durvilledoris similaris
Rudman, 1986
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Chromodorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Known only from the Philippines and the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Probably widely distributed in tropical western Pacific.
PHOTO
Buyong Bch.,8m, Mactan Is.,Cebu, Philippines, April 1983 (Holotype, 5mm long preserved) PHOTO: Ian Loch.
Durvilledoris similaris is one of a group of similarly coloured species of chomodorid with a pink or purple background colour and one longitudinal white line (Noumea purpurea colour group), or multiple white lines (Chromodoris decora colour group). In this species the background colour of the mantle is a translucent pinkish purple and there is a white mantle margin. On the inside edge of the white margin there are diffuse deeper purple patches which form a continuous band at least at the posterior and anterior ends of the mantle. There is a median white line which forms a ring, or partial ring around the gill pocket. The upper half of the rhinophores and gills are a translucent orange, and the lower half a much paler colour. Only two specimens have been photographed so no information on variability is available.
See the Noumea purpurea Colour Group Page to compare this species with others of similar colour.
Reference:
• Rudman, W.B. (1986b) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Noumea purpurea and Chromodoris decora colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 86(4): 309-353.
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (August 13) Durvilledoris similaris Rudman, 1986. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/durvsimi
Related messages
Durvilledoris similaris from Malaysia
November 22, 2007
From: Lawrence Neal
Dear Bill,
Here's a shot of a small nudibranch found on a slope of coral rubble. I believe it may be Durvilledoris similaris or at any rate a member of the Noumea purpurea colour group.
Locality: Pom Pom Island, Semporna, 12 m, Sabah, Malaysia, Celebes Sea, 23 October, 2007, Slope of small pieces of coral rubble on a fringing reef. Length: 10 mm. Photographer: Lawrence Neal.
Lawrence Neal
lorenzo_n@yahoo.com
Neal, L., 2007 (Nov 22) Durvilledoris similaris from Malaysia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21157Dear Lawrence,
As you may have guessed, some of these small purple species are not easy to differentiate. In fact I am only 100% comfortable with my identifications of some species in this group when I dissect the animal and look at its teeth. However the animal in your photo is a pretty perfect match for Durvilledoris similaris so I think on this occasion I can be 98% sure you are right.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Durvilledoris similaris from Philippines
January 31, 2005
From: Erwin Koehler
Dear Bill,
Here are 2 shots of what I believe to be Durvilledoris similaris.
Locality: Malapascua is., divesite "Gato, nudibranch city", Philippines'.
Depth: 17 m. Length: 14 mm.12 January 2005. Photographer: Erwin Koehler.
Regards Erwin
www.Philippine-Sea-Slugs.com
Erwin@Philippine-Sea-Slugs.com
Koehler, E., 2005 (Jan 31) Durvilledoris similaris from Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13063
Dear Erwin,
This is a nice photo of a rarely photographed species. I have included a close-up of the posterior end showing the mantle glands around the edge. In this genus, small mantle glands are found in a closely packed single row around the mantle edge. In this species, the glands at the posterior end, behind the gills are much larger than the rest of the glands, as you photo shows.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Durvilledoris similaris? from Marshall Ids
December 12, 1999
From: Scott Johnson
Hi Bill,
This looks like it could be Durvilledoris similaris. This is one of a pair found at Utirik Atoll, Marshall Islands, back in 1983. Haven't seen any since. The two specimens measured 9 and 10 mm.
Scott
johnson@kmr.ll.mit.edu
Johnson, S., 1999 (Dec 12) Durvilledoris similaris? from Marshall Ids. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1650Dear Scott,
Certainly looks like it. If so, it is a much more colourful one than I have seen. It also looks a bit like Noumea norba
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Durvilledoris similaris from Thailand
August 15, 1999
From: Erwin Koehler
Bill,
Again one photo by Georg Heinze, Thailand, Similan Is., March 1999,
depth and size unrecorded.
Erwin
Medslugs.Koehler@t-online.de
Koehler, E., 1999 (Aug 15) Durvilledoris similaris from Thailand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1181Dear Erwin,
I think this is Durvilledoris similaris, but I named that species "similaris" because it was so similar to other species, so there is a chance that it is another similarly coloured species. I would need to check its anatomy to be absolutely sure.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
