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

Order : Nudibranchia Suborder : Euctenidiacea Superfamily : Doridoidea Family : Discodorididae Distribution : Indian ocean, South africa, Madagascar, Mayotte, Kenya, Tanzania and Sri Lanka Maximal size : 50 mm Abundance : Seldom if ever on the rocky coast Species characteristics : The background colour of the dorsum is white, but it is mostly covered with orange pigment which is darker in the middle of the dorsum and lighter around the edges. The whole dorsum is covered with large blotches of a slightly darker orange colour Few pairs of opaque white spots, arranged symmetrically on the back Around the very outer edge is a ring of darker purple-brown pigment.
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Christophe Cadet Reunion, Etang Salé on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 30 November 2010, size : 20 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Angel Valdés
    Synonymous : (acording Worms)
          - No other name

Bibliographic data :

The body shape is flat and wide. The dorsum is covered with small "caryophyllidia"
    The branchial sheath has six small branchial lobes, with the anterior and posterior ones being larger than the others. The gill is composed of six tripinnate branchial leaves. The branchial leaves are tan and white
    The perfoliate rhinophores have about 24 lamellae.They are dark purple-brown to orange with white border on the lamellae
    The ventral surface is scattered with very small, purple-brown spots
    Species of Platydoris are easily recognized by their flattened, normally rigid (or coriaceous) body. This genus is also characterized by the dorsum covered with very small caryophyllidia and generally a lobate branchial sheath
    Found under coral rubble in shallow water 1-5 m depth

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Platydoris pulchra
   Nudipixel Platydoris pulchra

Publications :

Dorgan, K.M., A. Valdés & T.M. Gosliner. 2002. Phylogenetic systematics of the genus Platydoris (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Doridoidea) with descriptions of six new species. Zoologica Scripta. 31(3) : 271-319.

Other photos of Platydoris pulchra :

Christophe Cadet Reunion, Etang Salé on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 30 November 2010, size : 20 mm The perfoliate rhinophores are orange to dark purple-brown with white border on the lamellae

Christophe Cadet Reunion, Etang Salé on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 24 September 2010, size : 10 mm

Christophe Cadet Reunion, Etang Salé on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 28 December 2010, size : 18 and 25 mm A trailing behaviour ?

Norbert Verneau Mayotte, Dzaoudzi, Le Rocher, less 1 m, 2 March 2014, 3 specimens observed, size : 18 mm

Alain-Benoît Rassat Madagascar, Plateau des arches sud, Nosy Bé, 17 m, 22 December 2015, size : 30 mm

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