This species has been observed on Reunion, Mayotte and Madagascar Islands

Order : Nudibranchia Suborder : Euctenidiacea Superfamily : Doridoidea Family : Chromodorididae Distribution : Known from Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Kenya and Mayotte Maximal size : 20 mm Abundance : Seldom if ever on the fore reef zone Species characteristics : This chromodorid nudibranch is recognised by the pale mantle with scattered small brown spots, by a blue submarginal band in addition to the black marginal band, and by the whitish gills with black or brown lines up both axes. The rhinophores and gills pockets are edged with a brownish-black line below which is a band of diffuse brown
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Olivier Police Mayotte, Mtsangaboua, less 1 m, 7 February 2010, size : 20-25 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
          - Glossodoris paladentata, Rudman, 1986

Bibliographic data :

The creamy white pigmentation of the mantle is produced by closely packed ovoid white spots or bodies on a translucent background. The brown spots are aggregations of similar shaped brown spots.
    There are some brown patches on the sides of the body which otherwise is same colour as the mantle
    The rhinophores stalk is translucent white and the rhinophores clubs has dark brown lamellae with median anterior and posterior white lines joining at the white tip.
    The simple gills are translucent whitish and are edged with dark brown
    This species is very similar in colour to D. atromarginata with a pale creamy white background colour with a thin blackish line at the edge of the mantle but :
        - D. paladentata have scattered irregularly shaped brown spots on the mantle.
        - In D. atromarginata the white is a uniform pigmentation, while in D. paladentata the creamy white is produced by closely packed ovoid white spots or bodies on a translucent background
    Etymology : The name paladentata is from the latin for spade and tooth, a reference to the spade-like innermost lateral teeth

References :

Bill Rudman Sea slug site : Sea Slug Forum : Glossodoris paladentatus
    Nudipixel Glossodoris paladentatus

Publications :

Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012) Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33479.
    Rudman, W.B. (1986) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: the genus Glossodoris Ehrenberg (= Casella , H.& A. Adams). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 86 : 101-184.

Other photos of Doriprismatica paladentata :

Nathalie Bazard Madagascar, Nosy bé, 18 m, size : 40 mm

Sully Bachel Reunion, Barachois St Denis, 6 m , 5 December 2015 , size : 30 mm

If you have taken a photo of this species in South-West Indian Ocean, please Contact us...