Ceratosoma sinuata or what?

June 19, 2007
From: Erwin Koehler

Concerning message #19854:

Dear Bill,
Here is a shot of a Ceratosoma sinuata / C. flavicostata   ...
it fits somehow both descriptions: the long central lobe at the head makes it C. sinuata, the whitish mantle margin and red colour makes it C. flavicostata.

Locality: Gato Nudibranch City, Malapascua Is., 12 m, Philippines, Pacific Ocean, 11 Oct. 2003. Length: 31 mm. Photographer: Erwin Koehler.

So, what is it?
Regards Erwin

Erwin@Philippine-Sea-Slugs.com

Koehler, E., 2007 (Jun 19) Ceratosoma sinuata or what?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19998

Dear Erwin,
This is precisely the reason I left them all as 'one species' for 10 years [message #19853]. While there are extremes which fit the various names very well, there seem to be a lot of intermediates.

If there is more than one species I suspect this is C. magnifica. If this is the case, then this species is not restricted to the western Indian Ocean.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jun 19). Comment on Ceratosoma sinuata or what? by Erwin Koehler. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19998

Factsheet

Ceratosoma magnificum

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