Platydoris scabra (Cuvier, 1804)

Description

A medium- to large-sized discodorid with a grey ground colour scattered with irregular white blotches. The dorsum has a rough, sandpaper-like texture from which the Japanese vernacular カミヤスリウミウシ ("sandpaper sea slug") derives. Frequently encountered in intertidal and shallow rocky habitats.

Distribution

Broadly distributed across the Indo-West Pacific. The type locality is Timor, Indonesia. In Japan it is recorded from central Honshu southwards.

Etymology

The specific epithet scabra is the feminine form of the Latin adjective scabrus, "rough" or "scurfy", referring to the granular, sandpaper-like texture of the dorsum.

Remarks

An alternative Japanese name, アサセクモガタウミウシ, refers to the species' regular occurrence in shallow (asase) waters representative of the genus Platydoris.

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References

• カミヤスリウミウシ（新称:紙鑢海牛）, Hori S. & Fukuda H. (1996). Opisthobranchia of Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Honshu, Japan — Part 1. The Yuriyagai.
• プラティドーリス・スカブラ, 小野篤司. (2004). 沖縄のウミウシ. ラトルズ.
• アサセクモガタウミウシ（新称）, 中野理枝. (2018). 日本のウミウシ. 文一総合出版.
• Platydoris scabra, Terrence Gosliner, Ángel Valdés and David Behrens. (2018). Nudibranch and Sea Slug Identification Indo-Pacific 2nd Edition. New World Pubns Inc.
• アサセクモガタウミウシ, 小野篤司 & 加藤昌一. (2020). 新版 ウミウシ. 誠文堂新光社.