_______________
Additional Photos
side
top
rhinophores
pale brown, blotchy
dark
translucent
with egg mass
_______________
GALLERY
|
Dendrodoris sp. #1
Maximum size: about 76 mm.
Identification:
This
species
is
opaque
brick-red
with
yellow-white margins on the
mantle and foot. The
rhinophores are tipped in white and the branchia are cream with a
brick-red rachis. The branchia are intermediate in size between those
of Dendrodoris fumata and Dendrodoris
nigra while the rhinophore clubs are longer with roughly
twice as many lamellae. It may also be
distinguished from those species by its habit of holding the
mantle margin in three or four deep, narrow folds (more in unusually
large animals) rather than several
shallow,
broad folds. Occasionally, the notum may have faint darker mottling
and, rarely, it may be light or dark brown (while retaining the other
features that distinguish it from D.
fumata).
Natural history:
Dendrodoris sp. #1
is a moderately rare species found in moderately exposed rocky habitats
at depths
of 4-15 m (13-50 ft). Unlike most Dendrodoris spp., it can sometimes
be seen in the open during the day (based on reports by John Hoover,
Dennis McCrea and Bill Stohler). Sue Kellam photographed
one in association with a yellow spiral egg mass.
Distribution:
Big Island, Maui, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai: also known from Kwajalein
Atoll, the Philippines, Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) and Reunion.
Taxonomic notes:
This
species
is
listed
as
Dendrodoris
rubra in Hoover 1998 & 2006 (corrected in 5th printing). It
was first recorded in Hawaii
at Honaunau, Big Island by Scott Johnson on
May 18, 1978. It's referred to as the "red dendrodoris" in Hoover, 1998
& 2006. It was listed as Dendrodoris rubra on some sites until the type specimen of D. rubra was found to be a D. fumata.
Photo: Dennis
McCrea: about 76 mm: off Old Kona Airport, Big Island; June 5, 2009.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: ( )
|
|