This species has been observed on Reunion Island
Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Euctenidiacea
Superfamily : Doridoidea
Family : Cadlinidae
Distribution : Reunion Island
Maximal size :
Abundance :
Species characteristics :
The animals are characterized by sharp criss-cross ridges on the dorsum, and by two crater-like depressions running along the middorsal line.
The rhinophores and the ridges of the dorsum are orange. The crater and the lowest area between the ridge are darker. Fine white spots on the notum and the gills.
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Showing species characteristics... |
Photo Nathalie Rodrigues
Reunion, 16 February 2017
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Remarks :
This specimen look like to A. pikokai, a species
known from Hawaii and Marshall Ids, but Aldisa pikokai has three crater-like depressions running along the middorsal line and this specimen have only two crater, it lack the crater in front of the rhinophores. It looks like also Aldisa sp. 7 from South Africa in NSSI, Nudibranch & Sea Slug Identification, Indo-Pacific, Gosliner, Valdés & Behrens, 2015
Bibliographic data :
Species of Aldisa tend to be very good at camouflaging themselves to look like sponges. They often have two or three marks or pits in the midline to mimic the exhalant pores (oscules) of the sponge colonies. This animal has certainly developed the imitation pores to a greater degree than we can recall in any other species.
References :
Nudipixel Aldisa pikokai and Aldisa sp. 4
Other photos of Aldisa sp 3 :
More photos from Indian Ocean
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