Notodoris sp. 2
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Aegiretidae
PHOTO
Locality: Sodwana Bay, 22 metres, South Africa, Indian, Oct 2007, coral reef. Length: 50 mm. Photographer: Colin Ogden.
This is possibly an 'albino' form of one of the known species, but if so the general shape is more similar to N. gardineri and N. serenae than to N. citrina. As to the black in the rhinophores, it seems from photos on the Forum that the juveniles of all species, other than N. serenae, can have rhinophores with black pigmentation.
At present I think we should distinguish it as Notodoris sp. 2.
Authorship detailsRudman, W.B., 2009 (October 2) Notodoris sp. 2 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/notosp2
Related messages
Re: White Notodoris citrina from South Africa ?
October 6, 2009
From: Colin Ogden
Concerning message #22675:
Hi Bill,
I attach 2 more photos of the white Notodoris. They were I believe juveniles at differemt stages of development.
Unfortunately I have never seen it on any sponge.
Locality: Sodwana Bay, 16 & 20 metres, South Africa, Indian, 2008, reef. Length: 10 mm & 20 mm. Photographer: Colin Ogden.
regards
Colin
scubaco@iafrica.com
Ogden, C., 2009 (Oct 6) Re: White Notodoris citrina from South Africa ?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22679
Dear Colin,
Thanks very much. It looks as though the animal in the top photo is slightly 'younger' than the other one as it is smoother and has almost completely black rhinophores. You second photo [whch I have included close-ups of alongside] seems to show that the black gradually disappears from the rhinophores as the animal grows, which is what happens in the yellow species. Your photos also seem to show that the animal also develops low rounded bumps over the body as it grows as well.
Just add the sponge to your TO DO list - no urgency
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
White Notodoris citrina from South Africa ?
October 2, 2009
From: Colin Ogden
Concerning message #22553:
Hi Bill,
I attach a photo of a plain white Notodoris. At first we thought this was an albino form of the N. citrina, but we have now found this nudi on at least 15 occasions on different reefs, and every one is white. As in the citrina the juveniles also have black rhinopores. Could this be a colour form of the N. citrina or a different Notodoris.
Locality: Sodwana Bay, 22 metres, South Africa, Indian, oct 2007, coral reef. Length: 50 mm. Photographer: Colin Ogden.
regards
Colin
scubaco@iafrica.com
Ogden, C., 2009 (Oct 2) White Notodoris citrina from South Africa ?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/22675Dear Colin,
This is an interesting find. It is possibly an 'albino' form of one of the known species, but if so the general shape is more similar to N. gardineri and N. serenae than to N. citrina. As to the black in the rhinophores, it seems from photos on the Forum that the juveniles of all species, other than N. serenae, can have rhinophores with black pigmentation.
Fahey & Gosliner (2004) have proposed that species of Notodoris are just oversized species of Aegires so I have had a look at a white species of Aegires which they described from temperate South Africa, A. ninguis, but that clearly is different.
At present I think it is probably an unnamed species which we should distinguish as Notodoris sp. 2. I would be interested in some more photos of it. If you have photos of smaller animals and /or animals on their food sponge they would be especially welcome
-
Fahey, S. J. & Gosliner, T. M. (2004) A Phylogenetic Analysis of the Aegiridae Fischer, 1883 (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Phanerobranchia) with Descriptions of Eight New Species and a Reassessment of Phanerobranch Relationships. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 55, (34): 613 - 689, 82 figs., 4 tables (Appendix).
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
