Dendrodoris denisoni from South Africa

April 19, 2000
From: Valda Fraser

Dear Bill
I read in Debelius' book that Dendrodoris denisoni favours cold water.  I have seen this nudibranch in warm water i.e. 22 degrees Celsius.  ???? !!!!
Perhaps you could comment.

Locality:  South coast KwaZulu-Natal SOUTH AFRICA. Hibberdene - 20m
Date:  Oct 1999
Size:  35mm
Regards
Valda Fraser.

iti04937@mweb.co.za

Fraser, V., 2000 (Apr 19) Dendrodoris denisoni from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2291

Dear Valda,
To quote the English poet Pope: "a little learning is a dangerous thing ..". I am afraid Debelius doesn't give us references for his statements, so there is no way of checking them.

If you look at my page on Dendrodoris denisoni you will see that there is either one species or a complex of similarly coloured species throughout the tropical and temperate Indo-West Pacific. The earliest name, Dendrodoris denisoni, refers to a fairly drab coloured form usually found in estuaries in eastern Australia. The colourful form you have sent a photo of is certainly common in tropical waters. I have found it in very warm (tepid) water in Tanzania, and it was described by Alder & Hancock (1864) from India which is hardly 'cool waters.' We have photos here in the Forum of the form he illustrates from New Zealand, which used to be known as Dendrodoris mammosa.

At this stage I am treating them all as one species but I can't emphasise enough how important it is that we keep an open mind on identifications. To me, the sign of a good scientist and taxonomist is that they are not afraid to say 'I am not sure' or 'I don't know'. Such answers may be infuriating if you are trying to label your photographs, but they are a better reflection on the state of our knowledge. They also leave us with the exciting possibility that we can make new discoveries.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Apr 19). Comment on Dendrodoris denisoni from South Africa by Valda Fraser. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2291

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