Re: Is Ceratosoma magnifica a good species ?

Dear Erwin,
I think that like other species of Ceratosoma, actual colours - as distinct from colour patterns - may not be as important as it is in other genera of the chromodorids. The animal in Jun Imamoto's photo has a background green colour which suggests C. sinuata, but the shape and colour of the yellow marks, blue marks, rhinophores and gills are all identical to 'typical' C. flavicostata, and I would be quite comfortable identifying it as C. flavicostata. My interpretation is that in this case the background colour is green not reddish.

Of course I could be quite wrong, but now that I have suggested a pattern, this is a good way to test it. At least for a while I think we should look at general body and colour pattern and ignore, or at least downgrade, the background colour.

Good luck,
Bill Rudman