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This species has been observed on Reunion and Mayotte Islands

Order : Nudibranchia Suborder : Dexiarchia Superfamily : Fionoidea Family : Fionidae Distribution : Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, southern Japan, Hawaii and Reunion Maximal size : 15 mm Abundance : Seldom if ever... on the fore reef zone Species characteristics : Body transparent whitish. The head and "neck" are light blue with a yellow "V" that meets behind the rhinophores. The rhinophores are white with a bright red medial band Cerata covered with opaque cream and have a spot of bright red on the cream. Apex of the cerata light blue
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Sully Bachel Reunion Ravine des Avirons, 10 m, 10 October 2009, size : 15 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow
    For some author this species belong to genus Trinchesia, and called it Trinchesia sp1
    According Nathalie Yonow : " I would call this Cuthona sp. Cuthona usually has smooth rhinophores, long oral tentacles, and rounded foot corners (all a bit difficult to see in these not very clear photos). In the new American book (Gosliner, 2008), there are several species similar, with a single spot on each cerata… "

Bibliographic data :

In Cuthona like other Cuthona, cnidosac are present at the apex of the cerata...
    It is a rare species that has been found in exposed rocky locations at depths of 3-12 m. It appears to be diurnally active
    This aeolid looks like :
                - Cuthona sp2 , but in Cuthona sp2 , the rhinophores and oral tentacles have an orange apical half and the cerat havn't a spot of bright red on the cream erea
                - Cuthona kanga, but in Cuthona kanga, the cerata has a terminal opaque whitish tip and just below an yellowish-orange. Then a bright ultramarine blue and a dull green colouration due to the digestive gland duct.

References :

Hawai'i seaslug site : Cuthona sp2
   Nudipixel Cuthona sp

Publications :

Cuthona sp 12 in : Gosliner,T.M.; Behrens,D.W.; Valdés,A (2008) Indo-pacific nudibranchs and seaslugs A field guide to the World's most diverse fauna

Other photos of Cuthona sp. 1 :

Quentin Lognoné Mayotte, Ilot de sable blanc, less 1 m, 19 June 2016, size : 3-5 mm

Sully Bachel Reunion Ravine des Avirons, 10 m, 10 October 2009, size : 15 mm The rhinophores are white with a bright red medial band

Sophie Darnis Reunion Ravine des Avirons, 10 m, 10 October 2009, size : 15 mm The head and "neck" are light blue with a yellow "V" that meets behind the rhinophores.

Sully Bachel Reunion Ravine des Avirons, 7 m, 13 March 2010, size : 10 mm The rhinophores are white with a bright red medial band

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