Chromodoris willani
Encyclopedia
Chromodoris willani is a species
of sea slug
, a dorid nudibranch
, a shell-less marine
gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae
. The species is named for the renowned nudibranch taxonomist Dr. Richard C. Willan.
and the Philippines
to Vanuatu
.
, Chromodoris boucheti
and Chromodoris dianae
. This species can be distinguished by the very prominent white specks found on the gills and rhinophores.
Individuals in this species can range in color from dark blue to a translucent white. All have black stripes with the center-most stripe typically being non-continuous.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of sea slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
, a dorid nudibranch
Nudibranch
A nudibranch is a member of what is now a taxonomic clade, and what was previously a suborder, of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms...
, a shell-less marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae
Chromodorididae
Chromodorididae are a taxonomic family of medium-sized to large, colorful, sea slugs; dorid nudibranchs in the superfamily Doridoidea. These are marine gastropod mollusks....
. The species is named for the renowned nudibranch taxonomist Dr. Richard C. Willan.
Distribution
This nudibranch is found in the Western Pacific Ocean, from IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
to Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
.
Description
Chromodoris willani is similar in appearance to Chromodoris lochiChromodoris lochi
Chromodoris lochi, common name Loch's Chromodoris, is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.- Distribution :...
, Chromodoris boucheti
Chromodoris boucheti
Chromodoris boucheti is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae....
and Chromodoris dianae
Chromodoris dianae
Chromodoris dianae is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.- Distribution :This species is known only from the Philippines, Indonesia and Borneo.-Description:...
. This species can be distinguished by the very prominent white specks found on the gills and rhinophores.
Individuals in this species can range in color from dark blue to a translucent white. All have black stripes with the center-most stripe typically being non-continuous.