Glossodoris sp. 12
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Chromodorididae
PHOTO
Park Rynie, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Depth of 82ft on 10 March 2002. L: 28 mm. [specimen LCRW0094] Photo: Lindsay Warren.
See message below comparing this with Glossodoris sp. 4 and other similarly coloured species.
Authorship detailsRudman, W.B., 2002 (September 19) Glossodoris sp. 12 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/glossp12
Related messages
Re: Glossodoris sp. 12 from Reunion
November 19, 2008
From: Hugues Flodrops
Concerning message #7977:
Hi Bill
Initially, I thought it was a variant of Glossodoris pallida but when I saw Lindsay Warren pictures and similarities ... My best guest has become Glossodoris sp 12.
Locality: Les Brisants, Etang-Salé, 1 metre, Reunion Island, Indian Ocean, 13 November 2008, stream. Length: 15 mm. Photographer: Hugues Flodrops.
Can you help me a new time.
Best regards.
Hugues
hugues.flodrops@wanadoo.fr
Flodrops,H., 2008 (Nov 19) Re: Glossodoris sp. 12 from Reunion. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22039
Dear Hugues,
As there is no sign of the characteristic opaque white markings found in G. pallida I think Glossodoris sp. 12 is most probably what it is. However there is a possibility that Glossodoris sp. 12 is just a form of G. pallida lacking white markings, so as with many other identification problems, we really need to look at its anatomy.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
An unusual Glossodoris sp. 4
September 23, 2002
From: Valda Fraser
Dear Bill,
My! I thought I had this Glossodoris sp 4 all buttoned up after seeing hundreds upon hundreds. They prefer deeper water. Now, I find one in a couple of centimeters and ... it got an overdose of yellow colouring to its mantle edge. Maybe that is what “befuddled” its brain!
Locality: Pumula, south coast KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, intertidal zone
Date: August 2002
Size: 35 mm
Regards
Valda Fraser
valdafraser@mweb.co.za
Dear Valda,
Don't despair, I think your probably have Glossodoris sp. 4 'buttoned up'. I suspect this is something different. Lindsay Warren has also sent photos of this animal which I am calling Glossodoris sp. 12.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Glossodoris sp. 12 from South Africa
September 23, 2002
From: Lindsay Warren
Dear Bill
Please find attached several shots of what I had been assuming were colour variants of Glossodoris sp. 4. But now, having looked at these and photos of what is much closer to G. sp. 4 (see separate message) I realise that this is highly unlikely. I read the comments about small specimens of ones similar to those in these shots possibly being juvenile Glossodoris pallida where the white notal markings have not developed. However, given the sizes of the ones here, I think this is unlikely. A specimen of G. pallida from the Tukang Besi Archipelago, SE Sulawesi measuring only 9mm (see separate message) already had clearly defined notal markings. I realise that there is a rather large geographic distance between this and the ones with this email but it seems strange that there should be such a difference in development in the same species. However, I do realise that external appearances do not always tell the whole story, so to speak!
These wee beasties were all found at different sites off Park Rynie, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:
Upper right: depth of 95ft by Valda Fraser and I on 21 December 2001. L: 22mm. [Specimens LCRW0045 and 0046]
Lower Left: depth of 100ft on also 21 December 2001. L: 30mm. [specimen LCRW0047]
Lower right: depth of 82ft on 10 March 2002. L: 28 mm. [specimen LCRW0094]
In all these the mantle edge is quite 'thick' with a distinct yellow line and the mantle glands are not distinct. In Glossodoris sp. 4 the mantle edge is thin, white only and distinctive radiating mantle glands are visible in both 20mm and 50mm specimens. Other features of this species are that the edge of the foot and the outer edge of the gills are lined in yellow. In Glossodoris sp. 4 they are lined in white although the gills do have a hint of yellow on the tips. Another difference is that the rhinophores in this species have translucent white bases with yellow clubs, while in Glossodoris sp. 4 the coloration is similar but the clubs also have a white line down the anterior 'edge.'
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this and the others. All very confusing and probably not 'solvable' at the moment.
All the best
Lindsay
alldcl@compuserve.com
Dear Lindsay,
I am sure this 'species' will turn out to be distinct from Glossodoris sp. 4. Once the anatomy is studied I am sure we will find that it is the total colour pattern which is important. There are many white species with and without yellow borders but what really distinguishes them externally are the colours of the gills and rhinophores, and sometimes the general shape of the body and the gills. However I could of course be being over confident ....
At the moment I'll 'store' this as Glossodoris sp. 12.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
