Ardeadoris angustolutea    (Rudman, 1990)

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This species has been observed on Réunion, Mauritius and Madagascar Islands


Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Euctenidiacea
Superfamily : Doridoidea
Family : Chromodorididae
Distribution : Indo-West Pacific.
Maximal size : 25 mm
Abundance :

Species characteristics :

Mantle translucent clear with a diffuse opaque white medial band down the mantle The band narrows midway down the body

Around the margin of the mantle is an opaque white band with a thin orange-yellow line right at the edge

The rhinophore lamellae are a light brown to orange-red and there is a white band up the anterior and posterior midlines of the club

The gills are translucent but usually have some opaque white in the bottom half. The gill lamellae are the same brown or orange-red as the rhinophore clubs.

ardeadoirs angustolutea
Showing species characteristics...
Photo Yann Oulia
Reunion, Passe de l'Hermitage, 15 m, 7 November 2010, size : 15 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
          - Noumea angustolutea, Rudman, 1990

Bibliographic data :

The mantle is elongately ovate with a broad mantle overlap with some folding. There is usually a large fold on each side midway between the gills and the rhinophores. The foot extends a little behind the posterior end of the mantle when the animal is crawling.
     The rhinophore clubs are long and tapering and the rhinophore pockets are raised. The rhinophore stalk is transparent or translucent white.
    The simple gills are arranged in an arc, open posteriorly, around the anal papilla. The gills are translucent but usually have some opaque white in the bottom half. The gill lamellae are the same brown or orange-red as the rhinophore clubs. Because the tapering of each gill reduces the white area, al the upper half of each gill appears a reddish brown.
    The translucent white region of the mantle skirt, between the outer opaque white band and median white band, is sometimes an opaque creamy yellow.
    The foot is translucent white, with a yellowish tinge, and there is an opaque white band right at the edge.
    The name " angustolutea " comes from the Latin for a narrow orange-yellow line, having reference to the color of the mantle border.
    There are about 20 chromodorids with a white mantle and gold or yellow border described by Rudman as the Goniobranchus aureomarginatus colour-group These colour groups are just a convenient way of comparing similarly coloured species and have no phylogenetic significance.

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Noumea angustolutea
   Nudipixel Noumea angustolutea

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., 1985. The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris aureomarginata, C. verrieri and C. fidelis colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 83 : 241-299.
    Rudman, W.B. (1990) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: further species of Glossodoris, Thorunna and the Chromodoris aureomarginata colour group. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 100(3) : 263-326

Other photos of Ardeadoris angustolutea :


Monika Bachel

Reunion, Ravine des avirons, 17 m, 27 November 2010, size : 30 mm

 


Sophie Darnis

Reunion, Petit moteur, Saint Gilles, 16 m, 8 January 2011, size : 6 mm

Probably a juvenile form with a very faint coloration on rhinophores and gills.

 


Florence Trentin

Reunion, Maison verte, Saint Leu, 16 December 2004, size : 15 mm

 



 More photos from Indian Ocean

Mauritius, Ardeadoris angustolutea, at Poste de Flacq, by Sophie Darnis

Madagascar, Ardeadoris angustolutea, at Nosy Bé, by Alain-Benoît Rassat