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This species has been observed on Reunion and Mauritius Islands

Order : Nudibranchia Suborder : Euctenidiacea Superfamily : Doridoidea Family : Dorididae Distribution : Indo-West Pacific Maximal size : 38 mm Abundance : Seldom on the reef flat zone Species characteristics : It is characterised by the arrangement of the gills in a transverse line across the back. There is a dorsal flap covering the gill opening All the mantle is covered in evenly sized low rounded tubercles It ranges in colour from a pale yellow-orange to a dark green
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Christophe Cadet Reunion, Etang salé lagoon, less 1 m, 27 March 2010, size : 15 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow
    Specimens of Doriopsis are either deep blue, green or yellow and there has been considerable confusion in the literature concerning how many species there are in the genus. At one extreme 4 species, one each of green and blue and two of yellow have been suggested, while at the other extreme only one variably coloured species has been proposed
    Biological observations from throughout the Pacific suggest that there are at least two species, one yellow or green (Doriopsis granulosa) and one deep blue (Doriopsis pecten).
    In Reunion Island we found strange specimens called for the moment Doriopsis cf pecten . This specimen eats a yellow sponge like D. granulosa, but have a blue criss cross pattern like D. pecten !!!!

	Doriopsis granulosa	Doriopsis cf pecten	Doriopsis pecten
Size	38 mm (18 to 25 is usual for adult)	10 mm	16 mm (7 to 8 mm is usual for adults)
Dorsum	All the mantle is covered in evenly sized low rounded tubercles	Mantle covered with numerous small pustules, some higher in the axis of the back (or dirt often cling)
		The raised central region is usually paler, almost translucent in colour, with a criss-cross pattern caused by the underlying spicules in the skin
Colour	It ranges in colour from a pale yellow-orange to a dark green	The mantle is blue-green to dark blue-green.	The mantle is blue, sometimes so dark are to appear almost black
Food	Found feeding on a yellow or orange sponge, which is probably Prianos phlox	Found feeding on a yellow or orange sponge	Found feeding exclusively on a deep blue sponge Terpios
Spawn	The eggs are reported to be yellow and is much larger, and sturdier.		The eggs are reported to be cream to white with a frilly edge, and quite small and delicate

Bibliographic data :

It ischaracterised by the arrangement of the gills in a transverse line across the back rather than in the typical dorid circle. There is a dorsal flap covering the gill opening
    In yellow-green specimens the tubercles have scattered brown specks, especially on the sides, while in dark green animals the tubercles are often completely brown
    The body feels very firm because the skin is toughered with tiny rods (spicules) and the mantle is rough to the touch
    The rhinophores and gills are the same colour of the body without any speckling
    The 15 to 17 simple gills for a circlet around the anus that is compressed into a rearward-projecting fan overstopped by a notal flap
    Found under stones and rubble from the intertidal zone to a about 3 m depth where its feeds on yellow sponges and can be extremely cryptic
    The spawn consists of a bright yellow coil of 5 or 6 whorls

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Doriopsis granulosa
   Nudipixel Doriopsis granulosa

Publications :

Baba, K. & Hamatani, I., 1961. On two new species of Doriopsis (syn. Ctenodoris ) from Japan (Nudibranchia - Dorididae). Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, 9 : 63-65.
    Bertsch, H. & Johnson, S., 1981. Hawaiian Nudibranch s. Honolulu: Oriental Publishing Co
    Collingwood, C. (1881). On some new species of nudibranchiate mollusca from the Eastern Seas. Transactions of the Linnean Society, London, Zoology, 2 : 123-140, Pls 9-10.
    Hamatani, I, 1961. Notes on veligers of Japanese opisthobranchs(4). Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, 9(2) :353-361
    Johnson, S., 1981. Blue camouflage in a nudibranch. Hawaiian Shell News, 29(6) : 14
    Kay, E.A. & Young, D.K., 1969. The Doridacea (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science, 23 : 172-231
    Pease, W.H. (1860). Descriptions of new species of mollusca from the Sandwich Islands. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 28 : 18-37
    Young, D.K., 1967. New records of Nudibranchia from the Central and West-Central Pacific with a description of a new species. The Veliger, 10 : 159-173

Other photos of Doriopsis granulosa :

Christophe Cadet        Reunion, Etang salé lagoon, less 1 m, 27 March 2010, size : 15 mm The eggs are reported to be yellow and is much larger, and sturdier. The spawn consists of a bright yellow coil of 5 whorls

Philibert Bidgrain Reunion, La Saline lagoon, less 1 m, 1 March 2010, size : 20 mm	The 15 to 17, simple gills for a circlet around the anus that is compressed into a rearward-projecting fan (a) overstopped by a notal flap The lamelate rhinophores (b) and gills are the same colour of the body without any speckling

Christophe Cadet        Reunion, Etang salé, on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 26 October 20009, size : 5mm A juveline, always with low rounded tubercles over all the mantle

Elisanbeth Morcel Réunion, 9 December 2015   Considered by some specialist as Doris (Doriopsis) viridis and as Doriopsis granulosa by others...

Reunion, one juvenile and two adults of D. granulosa, at La Saline, by Philibert Bidgrain

Mauritius, D. granulosa, at Pointe d'Esny, by Geoffrey Summers