Doris chrysoderma Angas, 1864

Description

A small dorid reaching about 32 mm in body length and 13 mm in width. In life the dorsum is bright orange-yellow with numerous white tubercles; tubercles on the central part of the dorsum are larger and sparser, while those on the mantle margin are smaller and more numerous. The five gill plumules are simple (not branched), forming a cup-like circle around the anus, fairly upright; the gills are orange, the same colour as the rhinophores. Angas's type was 32 mm long and 13 mm wide.

Distribution

South-eastern Australia (Tasman Sea). Type locality: Port-Jackson (Sydney Harbour), New South Wales, Australia, based on two specimens dredged in the harbour at 15 fathoms by Angas during 1858–1860.

Etymology

The specific epithet combines Greek chrysos ("gold") with derma ("skin"), meaning "with golden skin". Angas described the animal as resembling "une petite masse d'or fondu" ("a small mass of molten gold") when seen under water.

Remarks

Angas placed the species in Doris, where it is still currently retained (hence no parentheses in the author citation). Crosse appended a footnote warning that the species should not be confused with Doris aurea Quoy & Gaimard 1832 (Voyage de l'Astrolabe), and summarised the differences between the two.

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References

• Doris chrysoderma Angas 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 chrysoderma, Burn. (2015). Nudibranchs and Related Molluscs.