This species has been observed on Reunion, Mayotte and Madagascar Islands

Order : Nudibranchia Suborder : Euctenidiacea Superfamily : Doridoidea Family : Discodorididae Distribution : Indo West Pacific Maximal size : 40 mm Abundance : Seldom if ever... Species characteristics : The ground color of the notal surface is translucent tan with dark brown and white specks. A pattern of tubercles resembling fried eggs served sunny side up (yellow rings around white tubercle) surrounds a medial group of dark brown tubercles Six tripinnate branches form the branchial plume, which is tan with dark brown and white specks. The perfoliate rhinophores bear about 13-19 lamellae and are dark reddish brown with white specks.
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Nathalie Bidgrain Mayotte, Passe en S, less 1 m, 1 November 2014, size : 20-25 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
          - Hoplodoris estrelyado Gosliner & behrens, 1998

Bibliographic data :

The body is oval and flat, the notal surface covered with large tapering tubercles which lack spicules that project from the tubercles.
    The size of the white egg-like ring becomes smaller on the tubercles nearer the margin.
    The tubercles forming the 6-8 largest fried-egg patterns are each encircled by 8-10 smaller white tubercles.
    A few tan colored tubercles are dispersed about the notal surface, and are particularly abundant near the center of the notum.
    The underside of the foot and mantle are speckled with dark brown.
    The anus is situated within the gill circle.
    This species is found on the outer edges of rock walls and reef fronts in 5-30 m of water.
    Etymology. The trivial name "estrelyado" is the Tagalog word for “sunny side up” which is derived from the Spanish word “estrella” for star, indicating the eggs are formed into starlike patterns with the yolk shining upwards. This applied to the unique pattern on the notal

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Hoplodoris estrelyado
   Nudipixel Hoplodoris estrelyado

Publications :

Dayrat B. (2010). A monographic revision of basal discodorid sea slugs (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia, Nudibranchia, Doridina). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. Series 4, vol. 61, suppl. I, 1-403, 382 figs.
    Gosliner, T.M. & Behrens, D.W. (1998) Two New Discodorid Nudibranchs from the Western Pacific with a Redescription of Doris luteola Kelaart, 1858. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 50(11) : 279-293.
    Fahey, S. J. & Gosliner, T. M. (2003) Mistaken identities: On the Discodorididae genera Hoplodoris Bergh, 1880 and Carminodoris Bergh, 1889 (Opisthobranchia, Nudibranchia). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 54(10): 169-208.

Other photos of Carminodoris estrelyado :

Photo Nathalie Bidgrain Mayotte, Passe en S, less 1 m, 1 November 2014, size : 20-25 mm The ground color of the notal surface is translucent tan with dark brown and white specks. The tubercles forming the 6-8 largest fried-egg patterns (a) are each encircled by 8-10 smaller white tubercles. The perfoliate rhinophores bear about 13-19 lamellae and are dark reddish brown with white specks.     Below : The underside of the foot and mantle are speckled with dark brown.

Sully Bachel Reunion, "La vieille" Les Avirons, 17 m, 28 November 2010, size : 30 mm A pattern of tubercles resembling fried eggs served sunny side up (yellow rings around white tubercle) surrounds a medial group of dark brown tubercles

Alain-Benoît Rassat   Madagascar, Nosy Bé, 21 November 2016

Justine Hours Reunion, Saint Gilles, "site de la Pierre du Préfet", 16 m, 12 November 2017, size : 30-40 mm

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