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side
 

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rhinophores & gills
 


no marginal line
 

dark
 


young
 

regeneration error
 

possible food sponge
 

mating
 

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GALLERY



 
Ardeadoris angustolutea
(Rudman, 1990)
 
Ardeadoris angustolutea
Maximum size:  20 mm.

Identification:  This is an elongate-oval species with a cream body shading to opaque white marginally and a narrow yellow marginal line. The rhinophore clubs are orange-brown with a prominent white line on the posterior face and the gills are white with brown on the exterior face of the rachis. Some animals may lack the marginal yellow line.

Natural history:  On Maui Ardeadoris angustolutea is a moderately common diurnal species found in moderately exposed to highly exposed rocky habitats at depths of 5-18 m (16-60 ft). Like many chromodorids it vibrates its gills. It may feed on an encrusting, cream sponge that often forms short tubes. (Note 1) It lays a light-orange egg mass with a relatively smooth margin.

Distribution:  Big Island, Maui, Oahu and Kauai: widely distributed in the western and central Pacific.

Taxonomic notes:  This species is listed in some sources as Noumea angustolutea. It was first recorded in Hawaii from Pupukea, Oahu by Laura Blackshaw on July 12, 2008. It's referred to as the "yellow-margin nudibranch" in the 2019 printing of Hoover, 2006.

Photo:  Edward Blackshaw: about 7 mm: found by Laura Blackshaw; Pupukea, Oahu; July 12, 2008.

Observations and comments:

Note 1:  Several of David Rolla's Oahu photos show it closely associated with this sponge with some suggestion of feeding damage. He reports that the photos (involving multiple animals) were taken in a limited area at the back of a small cave. (pers. com.)
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