Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Euctenidiacea
Superfamily : Doridoidea
Family : Chromodorididae
Distribution : Tropical Indo-West Pacific.
Maximal size : 25 mm
Abundance : Seldom if ever....

The mantle is creamy white with a broad orange band around the mantle edge.

On the inner edge of the orange band there is usually a series of tongue-like patches running into the white region or/and a thin wine red line between the white and the orange.

Other characteristics are the black rhinophores (clavus) and gills and the white foot.

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow
    Synonymous (according worms) :
          - Chromodoris fidelis, (Kelaart, 1858)
          - Chromodoris flammulata, Bergh, 1905
          - Chromodoris krishna, Rudman, 1973
          - Chromodoris lactea, Bergh, 1905
          - Doris fidelis, Kelaart, 1858
          - Glossodoris fidelis, (Kelaart, 1858)

Bibliographic data :

Usually there are three sometimes four tongue shape red marks, on each side between the rhinophores and the gills and with another three around the anterior end and three more posteriorly. These marks usually deepen in color around the edge.
    Usually there is a thin white opaque line along the inside edge of the coloured border.
    There are often smaller red or black flecks near the margin
    Some common variations exist (Rudman, 1985) and some of them seem present throughout the Indo-West Pacific.. So if you find an other form in our area, please Contact us ...
    The lamellated rhinophores have black clavi
    The five to eight small simple gills form a complete circle around the anus
    It is reported by Johnson and Boucher (1983) to feed on the purple sponge Aplysilla (=Chelonaplysilla) violacea Lendenfield, 1883, in the Marshall Islands, but it seems that they eat other sponges.
    Usually found under dead coral rocks.
    According to Boucher (1983), the ova (125-140 µm diameter) occur individually within capsules (140-240 µm). Extra capsular yolk is scattered between the capsules throughout the egg string

Fabrice Schubert

Mayotte, Sakouli, 24 January 2010, size : 20 mm

There are four tongue shape red marks , on each side between the rhinophores and the gills and with another three around the anterior end and three more posteriorly.

In this specimen, the rhinophore and gills are grey and not black....

Philibert Bidgrain

Mayotte, Mtsanga Sakouli, less 1 m, 1 June 2013, size : 8-10 mm

In this specimen the marginal orange band and the dark red tongue-like patches and well separated.

Drivas

Reunion

a long time ago...

With black rhinophores and gills