Discodoris lilacina from Townsville, QLD

December 16, 2008
From: Melanie Wood


Hi,

This nudibranch, which I have identified as Discodoris concinna is often seen at one of our local haunts, Rowes Bay. Most students find this species rather drab and boring but I find them beautiful and majestic when I see them moving in the water.

Locality: Rowes Bay, Townsville, Low tide, exposed, Qld, Australia, 7 September 2007, Intertidal muddy. Length: Approximately 7 cm. Photographer: Melanie Wood.

Thanks
Mel

deadlegsmel@hotmail.com

Wood, M.J., 2008 (Dec 16) Discodoris lilacina from Townsville, QLD. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21190

Dear Mel,

Compared with a beautiful aeolid or chromodorid I think you would have to be a little bit biased to describe them as 'beautiful' but certainly the contrast between the drab camouflaged dorsal side and the colours of the underside are quite startling - but as they say 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'.

Concerning its name. Alder & Hancock (1864) described two species from India Doris fragilis and Doris concinna which I suspect are the same species. They mention that Doris fragilis, as its name implies, breaks off bits of its mantle skirt. The earliest name for this 'fragile' one is Discodoris lilacina (Gould, 1852).

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Dec 16). Comment on Discodoris lilacina from Townsville, QLD by Melanie Wood. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21190

Factsheet

Discodoris lilacina

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