Chromodoris magnifica
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)
» If you find this species has been misidentified, please let us know
Below is comment from Dr. Bill Rudman, go to Sea Slug Forum to read more information
Dear Mike,
I am glad you have problems with this group of animals because the more photos of variations we get, the greater the likelihood we can resolve the puzzles surrounding this group. For example I am pretty sure this is a colour form of Chromodoris magnifica. I have been beginning to think that this species is a lot more variable than the 'typical' form with three black lines and a submarginal orange border. I am pretty sure that C. magnifica is the only one of this colour group which has a submarginal orange border rather than one right at the edge. It is also the only one in which the gills and rhinophores are often a very bright red rather than the same orange colour as the submarginal border. Unless there is a second species with a blue background, I think we have to start thinking of a blue background as being part of the variability of this species, along with mutliple black lines and occasional orange or brown lines.
Interestingly the red sponge your animal is on is most likely its food. Related to the red sponge, Negombata magnifica, on which C. quadricolor is usually found, we now have a number of records of C. magnifica on these red sponges. I should also say that it differs from C. michaeli in not having a punctate pattern on the blue region. If you look at photos of C. michaeli, C. dianae, C. annae and C. westraliensis the blue region of the mantle have what Gosliner & Behrens describe as 'a fine speckling of white'.
I think your photo will prove a valuable piece in the jigsaw puzzle
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
| Location: | Puerto Galera, Philippines |
| Photographer: | Mike Krampf |
| Camera: | Olympus μ600 › View EXIF properties |
| Taken on: | February 18, 2007 |
| Viewed: | 520 times |
| Posted: | 1 year ago |
| Updated: | 7 months ago |
« Hypselodoris infucata | Other nudibranch photos (page 568) | Chromodoris geometrica »
Other photos of Chromodoris magnifica
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Opisthobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Doridina |
| Family: | Chromodorididae |
| Species: | Chromodoris magnifica |
