Ardeadoris angustolutea explained

Ardeadoris angustolutea is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.^[1] It was transferred to the genus Ardeadoris on the basis of DNA evidence.^[2]

Distribution

This species was described from Ruby Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. It occurs in the tropical Indo-West Pacific regions, with confirmed sightings from the Philippines, Thailand, Guam, Hawaii and the Marshall Islands.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Caballer, M.; Bouchet, P. (2015). Ardeadoris angustolutea (Rudman, 1990). In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-11-20
2. 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
3. Marshall, J.G. & Willan, R.C. 1999. Nudibranchs of Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef. Leiden : Backhuys 257 pp.
4. Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. page(s): 206
5. 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): 243
6. Rudman, W.B., 1999 (October 17) Noumea angustolutea Rudman, 1990. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

   Description

   The mantle in this species is an almost translucent white in colour. The mantle border ranges in colour from opaque white to orange-yellow. The midline of the body has a more opaque line that runs from the rhinophores to the posterior branchia (gills). The rhinophores and branchia have an orange-brown tint.^{[3] [4] [5]}

   Ecology

   The exact food source for this sea slug is not yet known but the type specimen was found on a purple sponge species which is probably its food.

   References