Doriopsilla aurea (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)

Description

Reaches about 20 mm. Ground colour ranges from translucent white to vivid orange, the dorsum carrying regularly arranged raised whitish papillae. Quoy & Gaimard described their material as "of a beautiful, vivid, velvety orange colour, sprinkled with a few white spots above", with foliaceous rhinophores and gills divided into about five finely ramified plumes the same colour as the body.

Distribution

Southern Australia. The type locality is Jervis Bay, on the New South Wales coast, where the Astrolabe collected the species in deep water.

Etymology

The specific epithet aurea is the Latin feminine of aureus, "golden", referring to the brilliant orange-gold body colour.

Remarks

Originally described as Doris aurea in Voyage de l'Astrolabe, Zoologie (Paris, Tastu, 1832, T.2 pt.1: 265). Subsequently transferred to Doriopsilla Bergh, 1880.

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References

• Doris aurea, Quoy J.R.C. & Gaimard J.P. (1832-1834). Mollusques. In: Dumont d'Urville J. (ed.) Voyage de la corvette l'Astrolabe exécuté par ordre du Roi pendant les années 1826-1827-1828-1829, Zoologie. Tome 2, parts 1 (1832) & 2 (1833). J. Tastu, Paris.