This species has been observed on Reunion Island

Order : Nudibranchia Suborder : Dexiarchia Superfamily : Aeolidioidea Family : Aeolidiidae Distribution : Indo pacific Maximal size : 20 mm Abundance : Species characteristics : Variable from white to brown with numerous opaque white dots Cerata dorsoventrally flattened and leaf like arranged along to entire length of the body. The cerata in front of the pericardium form a single horizontal row on each side, while the postpericardial cerata are arranged in closely packed, sloping rows of two to four cerata Rhinophores smooth
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Sébastien Vasquez Reunion, less 1 m, 11 January 2016

Remarks :

Synonymous (according worms) :
          - Aeolidiopsis ransoni Pruvot-Fol, 1956

Bibliographic data :

The cerata are flattened leaf-like structures and in smaller specimens (7 mm long) they are arranged in a single row along the edge of the dorsum, while in larger specimens (15 mm long) the cerata are more numerous. The cerata in front of the pericardium form a single horizontal row on each side, while the postpericardial cerata are arranged in closely packed, sloping rows of two to four cerata
    There are two distinct colour forms.
          - In one, the animal is translucent with small white patches all over. There is a distinct white patch between the rhinophores, and another midway along the posterior edge of each ceras. There is often a white band on the rhinophores just below the tip. The viscera show through as creamy white. There are a few golden brown specks scattered over the body, foot and cerata.
          - In the other colour form the animal appears speckled brown on the body, cerata, oral tentacles, rhinophores and foot. The brown colouration is from clusters of zooxanthellae in small branches of the digestive gland ramifying to all parts of the body.
    Feeds on the zoanthid Palythoa sp by scraping away tissue and leaving a depression that the slug occupies making it even cryptic on its prey

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Aeolidiopsis ransoni
   Hawai Seaslug Baeolidia ransoni

Publications :

Rudman, W.B. (1982) The taxonomy and biology of further aeolidacean and arminacean nudibranch molluscs with symbiotic zooxanthellae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 74 : 147-196.
    Pruvot-Fol A. 1956. Un aeolidien nouveau des mers tropicales: Aeolidiopsis ransoni n.g., n.sp. Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle , Paris, (2)28: 228-231

Other photos of Baeolidia ransoni :

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