Ardeadoris electra (Rudman, 1990)

Description

Mantle broadly ovate with a wide overlap; a prominent permanent fold lies on each side midway between the gills and the rhinophores. The mantle is translucent, pale yellowish-white on the skirt, opaque white over the central viscera, and bordered by a broad opaque-white marginal band of mantle glands. A bright yellow band overlies the outer half of this white margin. Rhinophore stalks translucent white; clubs orange-brown with broad white anterior and posterior midlines. Gills sub-quadrangular, inflated, translucent white with the inner and outer faces dusted orange-brown and the lamellae edged in the same colour; rhythmically waving. Reaches 40 mm in body length.

Distribution

Type locality is Endeavour Reef on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia (15°47′S, 145°35′E; 9 m, December 1984). Originally recorded from Queensland and from New Caledonia (off Noumea); subsequent records extend to Oman and Japan.

Etymology

The specific epithet electra cross-references Chelidonura electra Rudman, 1970, another white opisthobranch with a bright yellow margin that was collected on both expeditions where this species was also found. The describing author notes that, with so many species being white with a yellow border, descriptive names had become difficult to coin (verbatim from the original description).

Remarks

Originally described as Glossodoris electra and later transferred to Ardeadoris. Closely resembles Ardeadoris averni in body shape, but is distinguished by (1) a bright yellow (rather than red to orange) mantle margin and (2) the absence of a coloured border on the foot.

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References

• Ardeadoris electra, Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012). Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: a molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33479.
• Ardeadoris electra, Terrence Gosliner, Ángel Valdés and David Behrens. (2015). Nudibranch and Sea Slug Identification Indo-Pacific. New World Pubns Inc.
• エレクトラウミウシ（新称）, 中野理枝. (2018). 日本のウミウシ. 文一総合出版.