Chromodoris obsoleta

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Photo courtesy of Jeff Hamann

Chromodoris obsoleta (Ruppell and Leuckart, 1830)

This species is endemic to the Red Sea, and was chosen this week to introduce Nathalie Yonow’s new book Sea Slugs of the Red Sea . This splendid chromodorid is one of hundreds covered in this book. Typical of other ID guides, Nathalie includes several color photos of each species showing variability, as well as diagnostic characteristics, size and geographical distribution. I cannot understand why its name implies that it is obsolete, but the white body with tubercles and orange brown reticulations is distinctive. The gill and rhinophores are white. There are successive orange and black marginal bands. It is found on shallow water reefs where little is known of its biology, other than it has a flatworm mimic. Length to 50 mm. The species current distribution is known only from the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.

To Quote Jeff..." Gregg and I did a dive last Thursday evening. It was an incredible experience! We spent over 3 hours in the sub down to 600+ feet deep. We also spent an hour in the midst of a feeding frenzy of Humbolt squid. We literally saw hundreds of them..."

David W. Behrens Author: Pacific Coast Nudibranchs Co-Author Coral Reef Animals of the Indo Pacific Proprietor of Sea Challengers Natural History Books Send Dave mail at dave@seachallengers.com

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