Is this Chromodoris aurigera
March 18, 1998
From: Michael D. Miller
Bill
I am writing to request your assistance in identifying a branch that is somewhat similar in appearance to that of Chromodoris aurigera as pictured on page 125 of Wells & Bryce (Sea Slugs of Western Australia). Two (2) images are being submitted for your review. Both were taken in Indonesia by Douglas Hoffman who is residing in the San Diego area at the present time. No site or collection data is available (animal not collected). Doug only saw it once in his many years of diving in Indonesia. Would you consider writing the taxonomic section for a future Branch of the Week on Chromodoris aurigera (?) on the Slug Site
Thanks
Michael D. Miller
mdmiller@cts.com
Miller, M.D., 1998 (Mar 18) Is this Chromodoris aurigera. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/39I can't say I'm an expert on Chromodoris aurigera as it was one of those rare occasions that I have gone ahead and named a new species on a single specimen. On the whole I try to avoid that, but as it was quite unlike anything named and fitted into a group of similarly coloured species I was reviewing I went ahead. In short I would say your identification is pretty likely although colour seems much redder. Perhaps the species is variable in colour? The photographed specimen was only 6mm long preserved. From the background material in the photos you sent me your animal looks quite a bit bigger than that so it is possible that the colour intensifies wit age. My specimen was from Western Australia so its a strong possibility it would also be found in Indonesia.
I'm happy to write a few words for your Branch of the Week but as I say, we don't know very much about it at this stage...Bill Rudman
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (Mar 18). Comment on Is this Chromodoris aurigera by Michael D. Miller. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/39