Dendrodoris rubra (Kelaart, 1858)
Family Dendrodorididae

This brownish red dorid has a yellow margin, white-tipped rhinophores and whitish gills. It appears to be active both by day and night. In the Indian and Western Pacific oceans it is described as having black, gray or dark red blotches and no yellow margin. Specimens from Hawai`i and the Marshall Islands have a yellow margin but lack the blotches. Regional variation may account for this, or the species could be new. (Thanks to Scott Johnson for this info.) Slugs of the genus Dendrodoris have no radula, so identifying them can be difficult. To about 2 in. Indo-Pacific.

Photo: Waimea Bay, O`ahu. 50 ft.

Author/photographer John P. Hoover lives in Honolulu. He has published two books on marine life of the Hawaiian Islands. His third, a field guide to the marine invertebrates of the Hawaii, will be available approximately February 1999. With over 600 photographs, it will cover 500 species, including 66 of Hawaii's most colorful and interesting opisthobranchs. Hawaii's Fishes, a Guide for Snorkelers, Divers and Aquarists Mutual Publishing, 1993 Hawaii's Underwater Paradise, Mutual Publishing, 1997 Hawaii's Sea Creatures, a guide to Hawaii's Marine Invertebrates. Mutual Publishing, 1999. John's books are available through Sea Challengers ! Send John E-Mail at hoover@hml.org

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