Carminodoris grandiflora (Pease, 1860)

Yonow, Nathalie, 2012, Opisthobranchs from the western Indian Ocean, with descriptions of two new species and ten new records (Mollusca, Gastropoda), ZooKeys 197, pp. 1-130 : 21-23

Carminodoris grandiflora (Pease, 1860) Fig. 7Plate 28

Hoplodoris grandiflora . - Fahey & Gosliner 2003: 170, figs. 1-16 (La Réunion, Madagascar, and Tanzania + W Pacific); Yonow 2008: 158 (Red Sea).

Carminodoris grandiflora . - Dayrat 2010: 184 (in discussion of Asteronotus raripilosa ).

Material.

Zanzibar: 30 mm pres., Matemwe, in sponge, lagoon on east coast, 01 March 1995, leg. MD Richmond. - La Réunion: photographs of one individual, 1990s, M Jay, pers. comm. and http://seaslugs.free.fr/nudibranche/a_intro.htm.

Description.

Numerous photographs of living specimen depict an oblong animal slightly broader posteriorly, with pinkish beige gill clump spanning width of animal. Darker central patch extended from just in front of rhinophores to gills, very dark brown where the tubercles were not ringed by white but lighter along the midline where seven large and numerous small tubercles were ringed in white. Many tubercles “frosted” with white pigment, which appears to be a characteristic of living specimens of Hoplodoris grandiflora . Remainder of mantle consisted of paler band of beige tubercles outlined in white; extended white areas formed patches perpendicular to the margin.

Dorsally the preserved specimen still bears distinct hard beige and brown tubercles. The central ones are the largest, and tubercles decrease in size towards the margins. The six gills are multipinnate, and the sheath is scalloped. The rhinophores extend from a raised irregular sheath bearing pinkish beige tubercles. The ventral surfaces of both sole and hyponotum are creamy beige with light brown pigment in the creases, lighter than dorsal tubercles (Fig. 7A). There are small pustules covering the hyponotum but not the sole. The foot is bilaminate for the entire anterior margin extending laterally for a short distance down each side, both laminae are notched, and the oral tentacles are triangular (Fig. 7B).

The radula of the 30 mm preserved specimen has the formula 38-39 × 107.0.107. The first lateral on each side has a long base and a short triangular cusp with a small denticle on each side (Fig. 7C). The remaining teeth have an equally long base with a small flange, but the cusp increases in length (Fig. 7D) and develops serrations along the side (Fig. 7E). The last two or three teeth in each row are very reduced (Fig. 7F).

Distribution.

This species has a widespread distribution in the western Indian Ocean, the Red Sea ( Yonow 2008), and the western Pacific ( Fahey and Gosliner 2003).