Mexichromis lemniscata explained

Mexichromis lemniscata is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.^{[1] [2]}

Distribution

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.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Description

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. ^{[6] [7]} This species is easily confused with other similarly coloured nudibranchs and shows considerable variation; it is likely to be an unresolved species complex.^[8]

Mexichromis lemniscata can reach a total length of at least 35 mm, and like all Chromodorids, feeds on sponges.^[9]

Notes and References

1. MolluscaBase (2018). Mexichromis lemniscata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832). Accessed on 2019-01-22.
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. Rudman, W.B., 1999 (December 5) Durvilledoris lemniscata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
4. 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.
5. Bidgrain, P., 2018. Mexichromis lemniscata Sea Slugs of the Indian Ocean, accessed 2019-01-22.
6. 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
7. Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. page(s): 201
8. 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
9. Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Sep 26). Comment on Durvilledoris lemniscata in aquarium by Andy Angel. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.