Bernd Hoppe (divemecressi)
Info
Chromodoris balat Bonomo & Gosliner, 2020
Chromodoris is a genus of very colorful sea snails and the type genus of the family Chromodorididae. Chromodoris are commonly found in tropical and subtropical waters, live as members of reef communities and feed primarily on certain sponges. They often have chemical defenses to protect themselves from predators. Star snails absorb the antibodies with their sponge food.
In 2020, 4 new species were described: Chromodoris bala, Chromodoris baqe, Chromodoris kalawakan and Chromodoris quagga. The type locality is Batangas Province, Luzon, Philippines.
Chromodoris balat grows to medium size with a length of about 45 mm. The body is creamy white with dark brown broken lines running vertically across the mantle. Large dark brown patches or blotches appear in several random locations along the mantle, covering the lines. The marginal band has yellow-orange interrupted spots on the outside with a white inner marginal band. In the white area there are small orange, yellow and red spots all around the slug.
Seven tripinnate gill branches are reddish-brown and have light, opaque white spots. The perfoliated rhinophores are reddish-brown and have 22 distinct lamellae with bright opaque white spots. The rear end of the foot barely extends beyond the end of the mantle and has the same marginal stripes and color patterns as the mantle itself. On either side of the mouth are a pair of finger-shaped mouth tentacles.
Etymology. The species name "balat" comes from the Filipino word for spot or mark, as the external morphology features conspicuously large spots throughout the mantle. However, the Filipino word Balat also has a negative connotation associated with birthmarks and means bad luck or misfortune.
Chromodoris balat is the sister species of Chromodoris lineolata. However, scientific research has clearly established that both are independent species. Chromodoris burni Rudman also has a similar coloration with brown pigment and white longitudinal lines. However, Chromodoris burni has orange rhinophores and gills that lack opaque white spots.
Chromodoris is a genus of very colorful sea snails and the type genus of the family Chromodorididae. Chromodoris are commonly found in tropical and subtropical waters, live as members of reef communities and feed primarily on certain sponges. They often have chemical defenses to protect themselves from predators. Star snails absorb the antibodies with their sponge food.
In 2020, 4 new species were described: Chromodoris bala, Chromodoris baqe, Chromodoris kalawakan and Chromodoris quagga. The type locality is Batangas Province, Luzon, Philippines.
Chromodoris balat grows to medium size with a length of about 45 mm. The body is creamy white with dark brown broken lines running vertically across the mantle. Large dark brown patches or blotches appear in several random locations along the mantle, covering the lines. The marginal band has yellow-orange interrupted spots on the outside with a white inner marginal band. In the white area there are small orange, yellow and red spots all around the slug.
Seven tripinnate gill branches are reddish-brown and have light, opaque white spots. The perfoliated rhinophores are reddish-brown and have 22 distinct lamellae with bright opaque white spots. The rear end of the foot barely extends beyond the end of the mantle and has the same marginal stripes and color patterns as the mantle itself. On either side of the mouth are a pair of finger-shaped mouth tentacles.
Etymology. The species name "balat" comes from the Filipino word for spot or mark, as the external morphology features conspicuously large spots throughout the mantle. However, the Filipino word Balat also has a negative connotation associated with birthmarks and means bad luck or misfortune.
Chromodoris balat is the sister species of Chromodoris lineolata. However, scientific research has clearly established that both are independent species. Chromodoris burni Rudman also has a similar coloration with brown pigment and white longitudinal lines. However, Chromodoris burni has orange rhinophores and gills that lack opaque white spots.
