Chromodoris aspersa (Gould, 1852)
Chrommodoris aspersa is closely related to the dozen or so black striped species, notably C. lochi, C. strigata,, C. westraliensis, C. burni, and C. willani, etc (all courtesy of Bill Rudman's Sea Slug Forum). It just doesn't have any of those characteristic black stripes.
The body is white and has a yellow to pink marginal band which is broken in Jim's photo. The dorsum is covered with purple to black spots each with a dusky halo. The size of the spots varies between individuals. The gill and rhinophores vary from yellow to orange.
This is one of the species of Chromodorid that lays a flat egg coil, rather than upright egg coil, like most other species. Its distribution includes the entire Indo-Pacific, from Africa to Hawai'i.
Nice pic Jim. Thanks
Jim Black is retired from US Airways after 27 years as a pilot..., flying Captain on an Airbus 330 Internationally. Diving since 1970...with over 7000 dives logged. Shoots Nikon D-300 in Subal Housing with Ikelite strobes. Macro Mate on 105mm for supermacro. Jim's photography has been featured in a number of books and publications including Helmut Debelius' Nudibranchs and Sea Snails of Gosliner, Behrens and Williams Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific. A photo of Jim petting a shark in "Sleeping Shark Caves" off Isla Mujeres Island, Mexico, taken by Amy Foster his significant other, recently appeared in Dave Behrens' Diving Guide to Cozumel, Cancun & The Riviera Maja.
Jim has been a solid supporter of the Slug Site since day one. His countless contributions put him near the top of the list of photographers who have greatly expanded our knowledge of sea slugs. There are a lot of kids in the formative stage of their education who are getting their first introduction to our sea slug friends via the great photographs Jim and other contributors have made to the site. My hat is off to Jim for making this presentation possible!
Send Jim email at jim.black14@verizon.net
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