Dendrodoris rainfordi from Thailand
November 29, 2007
From: Lawrence Neal
Dear Bill,
In response to the message about Dendrodoris rainfordi from the South China Sea [message #21131 ], here are some more pics, this time from the Gulf of Thailand. This is a small specimen. I've also seen larger ones in the same area with a much darker background colouration.
Locality: Koh Sark, Pattaya, 10 m, Thailand, Gulf of Thailand, 10 February 2007, Mixed sand and mud in a sheltered bay. Length: Approx. 25 mm. Photographer: Lawrence Neal.
Lawrence Neal
lorenzo_n@yahoo.com
Dear Lawrence,
Thanks very much. Since the find in the South China Sea, I guess its not surprising that it occurs in other places far from the coast of Queensland, but without interested photographers reporting in, we would never know.
It is certainly interesting that smaller animals may lack the dark colouration between the brown rings. It make the animal look superficially similar to Jorunna funebris. I know that species has a distinctively different anatomy and bristle-like caryophyllidia all over the mantle but it may be worth our while to check some of the early names which are considered synonyms of Jorunna funebris to see if they perhaps refer to D. rainfordi. Mind you, if the specimens no longer exist, we may never know.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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