This species has been observed on Reunion and Mayotte Islands

Order : Nudibranchia Suborder : Euctenidiacea Superfamily : Doridoidea Family : Discodorididae Distribution : Indo-West Pacific Maximal size : 55 mm Abundance : Species characteristics : The notum is covered with large, rounded tubercles that decrease in size towards the mantle edge, some with white patches at the base, the majority with dusty white markings on the top. The six main gill leaves are tripinnate, feathery with a frosted appearance on the tips. The ground color of the notum is light to medium mottled brown or tan with sometimes darker brown patches. The rhinophores are also lighter tan than the body and the tips are white.
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Philibert Bidgrain Mayotte, Mtsanga guini, less 1 m, 31 August 2010, size : 25-30 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow.
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
          - Doris grandiflora Pease, 1960 (original name)
          - Doris grandifloriger, Abraham, 1877
          - Hoplodoris grandiflora, (Pease, 1960)

Bibliographic data :

Material examined by Fahey & Gosliner ( see reference/publications).

CASIZ 070388, one specimen, dissected, 44 mm, Saint Gilles les Bains, Reunion. Collected by T.M. Gosliner, 20 April 1989.

Other external morphology characteristics

The preserved animals range from 23–55 mm in length.
    The body is oval, flat and the notum is covered with large, rounded tubercles that decrease in size towards the mantle edge.
    The six main gill leaves are tripinnate, feathery and the tubercle-covered sheath has a scalloped edge. The gill leaves are lighter tan than the body color, with a frosted appearance on the tips.
    On the ventral side of some preserved specimens, dark spots are sprinkled randomly.
    The foot is notched at the anterior end.
    There exist some variations in the color pattern of the notum :

The clumps of dark tubercles merge on some sea slugs into a dark ring ( Reunion Island specimen found by Terry Gosliner)
    Some sea slugs have dark spots near the mantle edge
    Other have areas of white tubercles that appear as perpendicular rays along the mantle edge
    Lateral to either side of the dorsal median on some specimens are evenly spaced clumps of darker tubercles
    On the knobby tops of some tubercles, the brown coloration appears worn off and whitish coloration is visible

Buccal armature

  Description and photos of radula

Similar species

There are several species in Carminodoris, unfortunately, apart from a couple of obviously different species, such as C. armata and C. estrelyado, the others are very difficult if impossible to accurately identify externally. They do have quite significant differences anatomically in their reproductive systems and radular morphology. It's just unfortunate they don't seem to be reflected by external differences.
    Looks like Carminodoris bifrurcata (pustulata?) but in C. bifurcata (pustulata?) :
          - The tubercules are smaller.
          - The brown rhinophores usually have flame-like cream markings on their clubs
          - The gill are two-toned : the outer side cream flecked with brown and white, the  inner side translucent orange-brown

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Hoplodoris grandiflora
   Nudipixel : Hoplodoris grandiflora

Publications :

Dayrat B. (2010). A monographic revision of basal discodorid sea slugs (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia, Nudibranchia, Doridina). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. Series 4, vol. 61, suppl. I, 1-403, 382 figs.
    Fahey, S. J. & Gosliner, T. M. (2003) Mistaken identities: On the Discodorididae genera Hoplodoris Bergh, 1880 and Carminodoris Bergh, 1889 (Opisthobranchia, Nudibranchia). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 54(10) : 169-208.

Other photos of Carminodoris grandiflora :

Philibert Bidgrain Mayotte, Mtsanga guini, less 1 m, 31 August 2010, size : 25-30 mm The six main gill leaves are tripinnate, feathery, with a frosted appearance on the tips.

Lateral to either side of the dorsal median on some specimens are evenly spaced clumps of darker tubercles (a).
On the ventral side of some preserved specimens, dark spots are sprinkled randomly (b)

Maurice Jay Réunion The clumps of dark tubercles merge on some sea slugs into a dark ring ( Reunion Island specimen found by Terry Gosliner and also this specimen)

Sébastion Vasquez Réunion, Terre Sainte lagoon, less1 m, 5 January 2015   Lateral to either side of the dorsal median on some specimens are evenly spaced clumps of darker tubercles

Philippe Bourjon Réunion, less 1 m, February 2017, size : 50 mm On this specimen, t he ground color of the notum is light to medium mottled brown or tan

Philibert Bidgrain Mayotte, Mtsanga m'titi, less 1 m, 16 August 2010, size : 30-35mm

Philibert Bidgrain Réunion, La saline, less 1m, 18 September 2010, size : 15-20 mm A small specimen with the same pattern

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