Chromodoris westraliensis

Chromodoris westraliensis
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. westraliensis
Binomial name
Chromodoris westraliensis (O'Donoghue, 1924)
Synonyms[1]
Chromodoris quadricolor westraliensis Burn, 1968 Glossodoris westraliensis O'Donoghue, 1924 (Basionym)

Chromodoris westraliensis is a species of very colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae. ^[2]

Distribution

This species of nudibranch occurs in coastal regions of Western Australia, from the Kimberley region in the north of the state, to its southern occurrence near Esperance. It is the most abundant nudibranch of the Perth region.^[3]

Life habits

These nudibranchs feed on sponges, usually a single species, storing the toxins the sponge contains, in order to deter their own potential predators.

This species occurs in shallow waters on partially exposed reefs and at depths up to 18 metres.

Description

The length of this animal is up to 400 millimetres. A mantle covers the upper parts of the animal and extends to form a skirt at the sides. The colouring is two (or one) bright blue patches on a black background, with an orange outline. This aposematic coloration advertises its toxicity to would-be predators.

Two sensory organs, tentacle shaped rhinophores, are orange, and are located at the upper surface of the head. The gills, clustered and plumose, are also orange and arranged near the anus.

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): 226
2. ^ Caballer, M. (2011). Chromodoris westraliensis (O'Donoghue, 1924). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=558297 on 2011-01-13
3. ^ Morrison, Sue; Storrie, Ann (1999). Wonders of Western Waters: The Marine Life of South-Western Australia. CALM. pp. 72. ISBN 0 7309 6894 4.