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Additional Photos
rhinophores
young
crawling
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Dendrodoris cf. albopurpura Burn, 1957
Maximum size: 120 mm (probably
larger).
Identification:
This
is a large, elongate species with medium-sized tubercles on its
notum. The body is mottled in cream and brown and has a firm texture.
The
tubercles are tipped in brown and surrounded by light rings. There are
diffuse
patches of dark brown on the notum that overrun some of the smaller
tubercles. The tubercles become larger and more numerous in older
animals.
Natural history:
Dendrodoris cf. albopurpura is a moderately rare
species found
in rocky habitats at moderately exposed to highly exposed sites. It's
been found at depths of 3-55 m (10-180 ft). A large animal dredged
by Terry Gosliner off Oahu came from about 100 m (328 ft).
Distribution:
Big Island, Maui and Oahu: Dendrodoris
albopurpura as illustrated in Gosliner, et. al, 2009 is known
from Papua New Guinea. Animals comparable to those from Hawaii are
widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific.
Taxonomic notes:
This
species is similar to Dendrodoris
albopurpura as illustrated in Gosliner, et. al., 2008 but
differs from those animals in having brown patches with
diffuse margins rather than patches that take the form of sharply
margined junctions in a reticulate network. It was first recorded in
Hawaii at Makua, Oahu by Scott Johnson on April 17,
1978.
Photo: Scott
Johnson: about 75 mm: Makua, Oahu; April 17, 1978.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: ( )
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