Aphelodoris varia (Abraham, 1877)

Description

A medium-sized dorid reaching about 60-70 mm in length. The body is elongate-oval with a slightly granular dorsum and scattered low tubercles. Ground colour is highly variable — cream, brown, grey, or orange — and the dorsum is typically marked with irregular darker patches or bands. The rhinophores are laminate, and the branchial gills form a complete circle near the posterior dorsum. The species feeds on sponges.

Distribution

Type locality: Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia. The species is mainly recorded from temperate south-eastern Australia (New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania).

Etymology

The specific epithet varia is Latin for "varied" or "various", reflecting the species' striking colour variability. The original description used the name variabilis, which was subsequently replaced by varia in a later revision.

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References

• Doris variabilis n. sp., Angas G.F. (1864). Description d'espèces nouvelles appartenant à plusieurs genres de Mollusques Nudibranches des environs de Port-Jackson (Nouvelle-Galles du Sud), accompagnée de dessins faits d'après nature. Journal de Conchyliologie, 12(1): 43-70, pl. IV.
• Doris varia (= D. variabilis Angas, 1864), Abraham P.S. (1877). Revision of the Anthobranchiate Nudibranchiate Mollusca, with descriptions or notices of forty-one hitherto undescribed species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1877: 196-269, pls. xxvii-xxx.