Chromodoris sp e048

This is an apparently undescribed species of Chromodoris that we have seen at Kwajalein and Enewetak Atolls. It lives under dead coral rocks by day and has been observed several times exposed on the reef at night. A dozen specimens were found at depths of 3 to 13 meters and ranged in size up to about 25mm.

At first glance, this animal kind of looks like it should be some kind of dendrodorid rather than a chromodorid. However, its internal anatomy and radular tooth morphology place it firmly in the genus Chromodoris.

The species does vary somewhat in color. The specimen below was nearly devoid of the magenta coloration that appeared in variable patches on most other specimens. In this one, the 25mm specimen found at Kwajalein, had only a few small patches that were more reddish brown than magenta.

Created 16 December 2005
Updated 14 January 2007