_______________
Additional Photos
side
underside
rhinophores
branchia
front
little white
intermediate white
|
Sclerodoris sp. #1
Maximum size: about 100 mm
(Scott Johnson).
Identification:
This
is
a firm, rough-textured, orange to red species. The notum is variably
marked with scabrous white patches. (Note 1)
There is a single mid-dorsal
"crater" that may contain patches of dark pigment. Lateral to the
midline
on each side are three smaller depressions that may also contain darker
pigment in some animals.
Natural history:
Sclerodoris sp #1
is a moderately rare species found in tide pools and subtidally to
depths of 65 m (213 ft). It occurs at moderately protected to
highly exposed rocky sites and has been found resting on a red
sponge
that matches its color. Rarely, it may be found in Halimeda
kanaloana beds. It lays a bright orange egg mass that hatches
in about five days in the laboratory.
Distribution:
Maui and Oahu: possibly more widely distributed.
Taxonomic notes:
The
description
of the second Sclerodoris
sp. in Kay, 1979 appears to refer to this species
(although the
photo is of our Aldisa sp. 2).
It is also listed as Halgerda rubra in Kay & Young, 1969. It is similar to the Indo-Pacific Sclerodoris
tuberculata and is listed as Sclerodoris
sp. 3 in Gosliner, et. al., 2018. It may have been first reported in
Hawaii off
Ewa Beach, Oahu in Sept. 1965 (Kay & Young, 1969). However, it
seems possible that Doris excavata
Pease, 1860 and Doris reticulata
Pease, 1860 were this species rather than synonyms, respectively,
of Trippa osseosa and Chromodoris sp. #1 as suggested in
Kay, 1979. If so, it was first reported from Hawaii in Pease, 1860.
Photo: CP:
found by student; Napili Bay, Maui; March 30, 2003.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: Perhaps, the amount of white
increases with age?
|
|