Dendrodoris coronata    Kay and Young, 1969

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This species has been observed on Reunion Island


Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Doridina
Family : Dendrodorididae
Distribution : Tropical Western Pacific, Red Sea and Reunion Island
Maximal size : 45 m
Abundance : Seldom on the rocky coast

Species characteristics :

The mantle is transparent white, or yellow/orange, peppered with black and flaked with white.

It is ornamented with numerous but irregular scattered pustules, those immediately anterior to the gill crownlike on a transverse raised ridge. This ridge is usually highlighted by white pigment.

The rhinophores are fawn to yellow/orange, with grey stalks, peppered with black.

 dendrodoris coronata
Showing species characteristics...
Photo Philibert Bidgrain
Réunion, Etang salé on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 18 October 2005, size : 25-30 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow

Bibliographic data :

The rhinophores are long and slender, with about 12 lamellae; they are fawn to yellow/orange with grey stalks peppered with black.
    The gill are large and feathery; they are fawn to yellow/orange with grey axes.
    The animal is broadly oval, wider posteriorly than anteriorly, soft, and the mantle margins are very thin and undulated.
    The ventral surface of the foot is white.
    This animal has a remarkable resemblance to a small living cowry snail (Cypraeidae).
    The species is named for the middorsal crown of tubercles on the mantle; the crownlike arrangement of the tubercles consistently distinguishes this species from other pustulate dendrodorids.

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Dendrodoris coronata
   Nudipixel Dendrodoris coronata

Publications :

Kay, E.A. & Young, D.K. (1969). The Doridacea (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science, 23 : 172-231.

Other photos of Dendrodoris coronata :

Christophe Cadet

Reunion, Etang salé on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 14 December 2011, size : 12 mm

The rhinophores (a) are long and slender, with about 12 lamellae; they are fawn to yellow/orange, peppered with black.

It is ornamented with numerous but irregular scattered pustules, those immediately anterior to the gill crownlike on a transverse raised ridge (b). This ridge is usually highlighted by white pigment.

 

Christophe Cadet

Reunion, Etang salé on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 26 August 2011, size : 5 mm

 

A juvenile form...

It is ornamented with numerous but irregular scattered pustules, those immediately anterior to the gill crownlike on a transverse raised ridge (a). This ridge is usually highlighted by white pigment.

 More photos from Indian Ocean

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