Doriopsilla carneola species group
This species group consists of: Doriopsilla carneola, Doriopsilla aurea, Doriopsilla peculiaris
Photographed by: Brent Murdoch
In temperate southern Australia there is a group of firm-bodied, orange or yellow dendrodoris with or without white markings on the mantle. Presently it is difficult to separate the two best-known species, Doriopsilla carneola (Angas, 1864) and Doriopsilla peculiaris (Abraham, 1877), the latter is supposed to have a softer mantle and low, broad pustules, but these are subjective differences not detectable in photos. However there are three other names involved – Doriopsilla aurea (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832), Doriopsilla davisi (Allan, 1933) and Doriopsilla staminea (Basedow & Hedlay, 1905). In her PhD thesis, Gilianne Brodie (2002) investigated the internal anatomy and type material of all these species. Her conclusions, which are presently not published, support the idea of several species, but their external differences are not clear-cut. So at this time it is best to include them all under the name Doriopsilla carneola species group.
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Opisthobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Doridina |
| Family: | Dendrodorididae |
| Species: | Doriopsilla carneola species group |
Locality:
- Australia
- Fremantle (6) Feb, Mar, May, Dec
- Nelson Bay (3) Oct
Pictures of Doriopsilla carneola species group
Similar Species
Author: Richard Willan
The Doriopsilla sp. from Western Australia and Doriopsilla aureopunctata are identical externally, but there are internal differences especially in the reproductive system. And then there is the vast geographical distance separating them as well.
