Mexichromis lemniscata is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.[2][3]
| Mexichromis lemniscata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Doridina |
| Superfamily: | Doridoidea |
| Family: | Chromodorididae |
| Genus: | Mexichromis |
| Species: | M. lemniscata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mexichromis lemniscata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)[1]
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Distribution edit
This nudibranch was described from Port Louis, Mauritius. It is reported from the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean including the Red Sea, Réunion, Thailand, Australia, Fiji, Moorea and the Phoenix Islands.[4][5][6]
Description edit
Mexichromis lemniscata has a pale pink-red body, with a white and purple-lined mantle. There are three thick lines on its dorsum, coloured yellow-white-yellow respectively. The gills and rhinophores are covered with different coloured rings, from base to tip, white-red-purple-lilac. [4][7][8] This species is easily confused with other similarly coloured nudibranchs and shows considerable variation; it is likely to be an unresolved species complex.[9]
Mexichromis lemniscata can reach a total length of at least 35 mm, and like all Chromodorids, feeds on sponges.[10]
References edit
- ^ Quoy, J.R. & Gaimard, J.P. (1832). Voyage de decouvertes de L'Astrolabe pendant les annees 1826-1827-1828-1829, sous le commandement de M.J. Dumont D'Urville. Zoologie, 2: 1-686, Mexichromis lemniscata p. 268.
- ^ a b MolluscaBase (2018). Mexichromis lemniscata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832). Accessed on 2019-01-22.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Rudman, W.B., 1999 (December 5) Durvilledoris lemniscata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
- ^ Rudman, W.B. (1984) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: a review of the genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 81: 115-273.
- ^ Bidgrain, P., 2018. Mexichromis lemniscata Sea Slugs of the Indian Ocean, accessed 2019-01-22.
- ^ Rudman W.B. (1990) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: further species of Glossodoris, Thorunna and the Chromodoris aureomarginata colour group. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 100: 263-326 page(s): 287
- ^ Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. ISBN 978-3-939767-06-0 page(s): 201
- ^ Gosliner, T.M., Behrens, D.W. & Valdés, Á. (2008) Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs and seaslugs. A field guide to the world's most diverse fauna. Sea Challengers Natural History Books, Washington, 426 pp. page(s): 256
- ^ Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Sep 26). Comment on Durvilledoris lemniscata in aquarium by Andy Angel. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.