Chromodoris willani

Chromodoris willani
Chromodoris willani at Verde Island in the Philippines
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Nudipleura clade Nudibranchia
Superfamily:	Doridoidea
Family:	Chromodorididae
Genus:	Chromodoris
Species:	C. willani
Binomial name
Chromodoris willani Rudman, 1982 [1]

Chromodoris willani is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae. The species is named for the renowned nudibranch taxonomist Dr. Richard C. Willan.^[2]

Distribution

This nudibranch is found in the Western Pacific Ocean, from Indonesia and the Philippines to Vanuatu.^[3]

Description

Chromodoris willani is similar in appearance to Chromodoris lochi, Chromodoris boucheti and Chromodoris dianae. This species can be distinguished by the very prominent white specks found on the gills and rhinophores.^[4]

Individuals in this species can range in color from dark blue to a translucent white. All have black stripes with the center-most stripe typically being non-continuous.

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  Pale blue individuals of Chromodoris willani

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  White form of Chromodoris willani

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  Blue form of Chromodoris willani

References

1. ^ Rudman, W.B. 1982. The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris quadricolor, C. lineolata and Hypselodoris nigrolineata colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 76: 183-241. page(s): 193
2. ^ Richard Willan. Nudipixel, accessed 8 December 2009.
3. ^ Chromodoris willani Rudman, 1982. Sea Slug Forum, accessed 8 December 2009
4. ^ Debelius H. (2001) Nudibranchs and Sea Snails: Indo-Pacific Field Guide. IKAN, Unterwasserarchiv, Frankfurt, Germany.

External links

• Chromodoris willani at nudipixel
• Seaslug forum