Chromodoris willani
| Chromodoris willani | |
|---|---|
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| Chromodoris willani in the Philippines | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Clade: | Nudipleura |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Family: | Chromodorididae |
| Genus: | Chromodoris |
| Species: | C. willani |
| Binomial name | |
| Chromodoris willani | |
Chromodoris willani, also called Willan's chromodoris, is a species of sea slug. It is a type of dorid nudibranch. It is a soft-bodied marine gastropod mollusk with no shell. It belongs to the family Chromodorididae. The species is named after Dr. Richard C. Willan, who studied nudibranchs.
Distribution
[change | change source]This nudibranch lives in the Western Pacific Ocean. It can be found from Indonesia and the Philippines to Vanuatu.[2]
Description
[change | change source]Chromodoris willani looks like Chromodoris lochi, Chromodoris boucheti, and Chromodoris dianae. You can tell it apart by the clear white spots on its gills and rhinophores.[3]
This species can have different colors. It can be dark blue or see-through white. All individuals have black stripes. The middle stripe is usually broken and not continuous.[4]
Ecology
[change | change source]Chromodoris willani eats sponges, like many other nudibranchs. It has been seen eating Cacospongia mycofijiensis and Semitaspongia. These are in the family Thorectidae.[5]
Blue form of Chromodoris willani
Pale blue individuals of Chromodoris willani
White form of Chromodoris willani
Browny form of Chromodoris willani in Wakatobi National Park, 2016
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References
[change | change source]- ↑ 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
- ↑ Chromodoris willani Rudman, 1982. Sea Slug Forum, accessed 8 December 2009
- ↑ Debelius H. (2001) Nudibranchs and Sea Snails: Indo-Pacific Field Guide. IKAN, Unterwasserarchiv, Frankfurt, Germany.
- ↑ Rudman, W.B., 1998 (November 29) Chromodoris willani Rudman, 1982. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
- ↑ Rudman W.B. & Bergquist, P.R., 2007. "A review of feeding specificity in the sponge-feeding Chromodorididae (Nudibranchia: Mollusca). Molluscan Research 27(2): 60–88.
Other websites
[change | change source]
- Photos of Chromodoris willani in the Sealife Collection