Dendrodoris coronata Kay & Young, 1969

Dendrodoris coronata has been found at Kwajalein and Enewetak Atolls in a variety of locations, including lagoon interisland reefs, pinnacle reefs, and the seaward slope. Most were under dead coral during the day, but at least one has been found in a ledge at night. Depths ranged from about 1.5 to 10 meters, and 10 measured specimens ranged from 8 to 40mm in length. The 40mm specimen deposited eight egg masses in a sea table after it was collected for observation. An egg mass from a 12mm specimen was loaded with yellow ova measuring 50 to 60 µm in diameter, individually within capsules of about 77 µm. There were about 165 ova per mm squared and about 39,600 in the entire egg mass.

This species may have an earlier name in Doriopsis punctata Alder & Hancock, 1864.

The photos below show color variation in this species.

Here is a scan of the drawing of Doriopsis punctata from Alder & Hancock, 1864. The general shape, dark spots, and aggregations of dark spots submarginally all make me believe this is an earlier name for Dendrodoris coronata. With a little imagination, you can also almost see the line of larger pustules crossing the dorsum right in front of the gills.

Created 25 December 2006
Updated 19 September 2008

Reference:

Alder, J. & A. Hancock. 1864. Notice of a collection of nudibranchiate Mollusca made in India by Walter Eliot Esq., with descriptions of several new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 5: 113-145.