Chromodoris cf rubrocornuta Rudman, 1985

The primary difference between these specimens and typical Chromodoris rubrocornuta is the birght yellow body on the Kwajalein specimens instead of the more typical white. Also, the marginal coloration is a bit different, with a wide orange continuous margin and narrow maroon and white submargins that are also continuous although somewhat irregular in thickness. Several specimens of this species have been found at Kwajalein Atoll on lagoon reefs under dead coral or corrugated aluminum sheets blown into the water during storms. These aluminum sheets acquire nice encrusting sponge growth on their undersides and seem a favored habitat for a number of nudibranchs.

The two specimens below are each carrying around a commensal crustacean, near the gills of the first photo and between the rhinophores of the next. On the bottom photo, the commensal looks a bit like the head of a rabbit.

Created 14 December 2005
Updated 24 October 2008