This species has been observed on Reunion and Mayotte Islands

Order : Nudibranchia Suborder : Euctenidiacea Superfamily : Doridoidea Family : Chromodorididae Distribution : Red sea, Philippines, Japan, Australia, ... Maximal size : 25 mm Abundance : Seldom if ever on the fore reef zone Species characteristics : There is a broad milky yellow or creamy white band around the mantle edge and on the midline.    On the inside edge are a series of reddish purple streaks or smudged marks.    The midline band always encircles the gill pocket.     It has a shape with a relatively wide flattened body and broad mantle skirt. Mantle varie from pink to purplish orange or purple.    The gills and rhinophores are entirely tinged with orange-red.
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Norbert Verneau Mayotte, lagune de Dzaoudzi, less 1 m, 2 June 2012, size : 15 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Bill Rudman
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
          - Noumea norba, Er. Marcus & Ev. Marcus, 1970

Bibliographic data :

In Verconia norba the background colour of the mantle can vary from reddish purple to pinkish orange in different specimens.
     In the midline there is a broad band of irregular width of the same colour as the mantle border. This band always encircles the gill pocket and can be broken in two about half way along its length
    Verconia norba and V. varians are quite similar in colour however their internal anatomy is quite different.

Verconia norba	Verconia varians
V. norba is quite like a species of Chromodoris in shape with a relatively wide flattened body and broad mantle skirt Presence on lateral edge of reddish purple streaks or smudged marks The gills are entirely tinged with orange-red The rhinophores are entirely tinged with orange-red.	V. varians is more like a Hypselodoris with a relatively high body and narrow mantle skirt. Absence on lateral edge of reddish purple streaks or smudged marks The gills are translucent clear with a tinge of orange in the upper half. The rhinophores are translucent orange with an opaque white core

In an earlier revision (Rudman, 1986) Bill Rudman considered this species to be a synonym of V. purpurea, but now that we know more about the anatomy and colour variation in that species,we can say they are clearly distinct species.

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Noumea norba

Publications :

Rudman, W. B. (1984). The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: a review of the genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 81(2): 115-273.
page(s): 143
    Rudman, W.B. (1986) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Noumea purpurea and Chromodoris decora colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 86(4) : 309-353.

Other photos of Verconia norba :

Maurice Jay Reunion, "Cap la Houssaye" at Saint Paul, 15 m, 24 March 1985

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