This species has been observed on Mayotte Island
Order :
Cephalaspidea
Superfamily : Philinoidea
Family :
Aglajidae
Distribution :
Arabian sea, western indian ocean (mayotte) and possibly from northern australia and indonesia
Maximal size : 50 mm
Abundance : (May) From time to time on the fore reef zone
Species characteristics :
The body color is black or very dark brown (paler in juvenile) with electric blue rings or spots on the head and along the parapodial edges
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Showing species characteristics... |
Photo Sylvain Le Bris
Mayotte, 6 December 2008
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See more about : Sightening and mating periods
Remarks :
Identification confirmed by Bill Rudman and Nathalie Yonow
In Mayotte Island like in Madagascar, we found only "the ring pattern" never the "spot pattern" like in the north of its geographic area... We need to confirm this observation with other specimens...
Synonymous : (according Worms)
- No other name
Bibliographic data :
Along the anterior edge of the propodium (
anterior portion of the foot ) , some of the blue dots coalesce into a blue line in some specimens
The tails are uneven, the left longer than the right, and also have spot on them
The sensory bristles are often impossible to see in aglajids, but are visible on the anterior edge of both the juvenile and the adult in this species.
These sensory bristles are used to 'smell' or otherwise detect potential prey, and mating partners, by sensing molecules in the mucous trails it finds.
In Red sea, C. livida congregate in spring and early summer for breeding, mating in chains. It lays a white cocoon-like egg mass
It can produce brownish yellow secretions when handled, which is toxic to fish
Shell (on a large specimen) : the spire has 1,5 whorls and then expands to form a gently curving shell with a more calcified leading edge.
They can be found in shallow water or sandy/silty sea beds, in sea grass beds, most often at night.
References :
Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Chelidonura livida
Publications :
Yonow, N. (1990) Red Sea Opisthobranchia 3: The orders sacoglossa, Cephalaspidea, and Nudibranchia: Doridacea (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia). Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 11 : 286-299.
Yonow, N. (1994) A new species and a new record of Chelidonura from the Red Sea (Cephalaspidea: Aglajidae). Journal of Conchology, 35 : 141-147.
Zamora-Silva A. & Malaquias M.A.E. (2017). Molecular phylogeny of the Aglajidae head-shield sea slugs (Heterobranchia: Cephalaspidea): new evolutionary lineages revealed and proposal of a new classification. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Other photos of Chelidonura livida :
Yvon Gildas
Mayotte, Passe en S, buoy n°13, 7 m, 25 November 2009
The sensory bristles (a) are often impossible to see in aglajids, but are visible on the anterior edge.
Along the anterior edge of the propodium ( anterior portion of the foot ) , some of the blue dots coalesce into a blue line (b) in this specimen |
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Matthiass Deuss Mayotte, Passe en S (buoy n°7), 10-15 m, 17 August 2009, size : 25-35 mm
4 or 5 specimens observed during the same dive...
The body color is very dark brown |
Matthiass Deuss
Mayotte, Passe en S (buoy n°7), 10-15 m, 17 August 2009, size : 25-35 mm
mating chain with 3 specimens... |  |
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Sylvain Le Bris
Mayotte, Nurserie, 8 m, 4 December 2008, size : 20 mm
It lays a white cocoon-like egg mass

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More photos from Indian Ocean
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