Aldisa sp. 5
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Dorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Known only from Hawaii
PHOTO
Hawaii. Photos: Scott Johnson.
This is a second Hawaiian Aldisa. Although about the same size and color as Aldisa pikokai, this species is dorsally covered with low rounded bumps. Other differences between it and Aldisa pikokai include the presence of only two middorsal craters instead of three, and the floors of these craters lack darker spots. While Aldisa pikokai has scattered patches of opaque white, this bumpy species tends to have patches that are more yellow, bordered by almost iridescent patches of bluish purple. This Aldisa is considerably less common than Aldisa pikokai but has the same habits; it hides away during the day and is active and exposed at night. This species appears somewhat similar to the Forum's Aldisa sp.1 by Atsushi Ono.
Scott
Johnson, S., 2002 (March 17) Aldisa sp. 5 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/aldisp5
Related messages
Aldisa? from Hachijo Island Japan
July 7, 2002
From: Shouichi Kato
Dear Bill,
This pretty animal was found by my staff Hidenori Ando, on the rocky wall 15m in depth. He felt it, if anything, a little bit hard. We couldn't reach his name.
Please advise.
Best regards,
S. Kato
regulus@edit.ne.jp
Kato, S., 2002 (Jul 7) Aldisa? from Hachijo Island Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7093Dear Shouichi,
This looks ike it could be the same as Scott Johnson's Aldisa sp. 5 from Hawaii. Although not that clear in his photos he describes the colour as having 'patches that are more yellow, bordered by almost iridescent patches of bluish purple' which fit your animal well. One distinguishing feature of Scott's animal is that it is covered in low rounded bumps. If you have another photo, perhaps from the side of the slug, we might be able to see if it has the same bumps. It might also show if there are the characteristic pits in the dorsal midline.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Aldisa from Hawaii
March 20, 2002
From: Scott Johnson
Hi Bill,
Here are three photos of the second Hawaiian Aldisa. Although about the same size and color as Aldisa pikokai, this species is dorsally covered with low rounded bumps. Other differences between it and Aldisa pikokai include the presence of only two middorsal craters instead of three, and the floors of these craters lack darker spots. While Aldisa pikokai has scattered patches of opaque white, this bumpy species tends to have patches that are more yellow, bordered by almost iridescent patches of bluish purple. This Aldisa is considerably less common than Aldisa pikokai but has the same habits; it hides away during the day and is active and exposed at night. This species appears somewhat similar to the Forum's Aldisa sp.1 by Atsushi Ono.
Scott
johnson@kmr.ll.mit.edu
Thanks Scott,
Bill Rudman
