Pectenodoris aurora
Johnson & Gosliner, 1998
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Chromodorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Philippines, Indonesia, Japan (Okinawa)
PHOTO
Pulau Tenggol, West Malaysia, 27 metres, 10mm long., March 2002. Photo: Mabel Fang
Background colour pinkish purple to blue, colour deepening towards the mantle edge. There are three broad opaque white longitudinal bands on the mantle, with a narrower yellowish line down the middle of each band. The bands may be broken and the central band forms a narrow ring around the gill pocket. In the midregion of the mantle between the white bands are a number of large diffuse dark purple or blue spots, and around the mantle edge are scattered smaller opaque white spots and sometimes dark blue or purple spots as well. There is a white median line on the poisterior foot. The rhinophore club is orange with a broad white median band, and the rhinophore stalk is translucent orange. The gills are similarly coloured - orange with a median white band. In anatomy it is very similar to the only other known member of the genus Pectenodoris trilineata. Grows to approx 8mm long.
Reference:
• Johnson, R.F. & Gosliner, T.M. (1998) The genus Pectenodoris (Nudibranchia: Chromodorididae) from the Indo-Pacific, with the description of a new species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 50(12): 295-306.
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (July 29) Pectenodoris aurora Johnson & Gosliner, 1998. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/pectauro
Related messages
Pectenodoris aurora from Indonesia
April 8, 2010
From: Franco De Lorenzi
Dear Dr Rudman
These nudibranchs found in Siladen presents 3 white board stripes on the body. For some features looks like Hypselodoris maculosa or Pectenodoris aurora and on the other hand you explained very clearly to me how Pectenodoris trilineata can be variable in its form. I don't remember if these specimens were feeding or simply moving on the substrate you see therefore I can't help.
Locality: Siladen , 15 metres, Indonesia, indopacific ocean, 21 august 2007, Coral wall. Length: 12 mm. Photographer: Franco De Lorenzi.
Thanks a lot.
Franco
cratena@tiscali.it
De Lorenzi, F., 2010 (Apr 8) Pectenodoris aurora from Indonesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23431
Dear Franco,
This is Pectenodoris aurora. The two species of Pectendoris are anatomically very similar, so it is possible we will discover they are colour forms of one species, but my gut feeling is that they are different. It is a good example of the problem of deciding just when colour variation within a species becomes enough colour variation to distingusih different species. usually we use anatomical differences and biological differences such as what food they eat and what shape their egg masses are, but in many cases we don't have enough information to be sure. That is why the Forum is a valuable place to post such photos, because it is helping us to build up a knowledge of the variability in some of these rarely found species.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Re: Pectenodoris aurora
August 8, 2002
From: Philip Lau
Dear Bill
Thank you for the excellent feedback on Pectenodoris aurora; it was most informative. In response to your request for further information on the locality, the animal was located at Pulau Tenggol, West Malaysia. It was resting on a ledge on the wall without much of anything around it. As it was tiny, the picture could only be shot top down. For the record, although I found the animal, the photograph was captured by my good friend Mabel Fang.
Kind regards
Philip Lau
phillau@singnet.com.sg
Lau, P., 2002 (Aug 8) Re: Pectenodoris aurora. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7736Thanks Philip,
I have added the details to your original message
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Pectenodoris aurora from Malaysia
August 2, 2002
From: Philip Lau
Dear Dr Rudman
I would be most grateful for your assistance in identifying this species. I saw this 1cm slug when I was wall diving at 27 metres in Pulau Tenggol, West Malaysia in March 2002. Photo: Mabel Fang
Kind regards
Philip Lau
phillau@singnet.com.sg
Lau, P., 2002 (Aug 2) Pectenodoris aurora from Malaysia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7675Dear Philip,
This is an interesting find. It is Pectenodoris aurora. Your animal is much bluer than in the original description so it gives a useful information on the colour variability of the species. If you could give me some precise locality information it would be useful
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
