Mexichromis katalexis explained

Mexichromis katalexis is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.[1]

Distribution

The holotype of this species was collected in 1990 at depth, west of Lilibooi, Hitu, Ambon Island. Other specimens from Hitu and Tulamben, Bali were included in the original description.

Description

Mexichromis katalexis is similar to Mexichromis multituberculata (Baba, 1989), which also has conical, pointed, purple-tipped papillae on the dorsum, but the mantle edged with purple patches. It is known from Japan, China, and Hong Kong and clearly differs in the shape of the papillae and the purple tuberculate margin.[2] The two species have been seen together, feeding on the same food and were thought to be conspecific, but there are radula differences as well as colour differences.[3]

Notes and References

  1. MolluscaBase (2018). Mexichromis katalexis Yonow, 2001. Accessed on 2019-01-21.
  2. Debelius H., 1996 Nudibranchs and Sea Snails. Indo-Pacific field guide. IKAN Unterwasserarchiv, Frankfurt. 321pp. p. 217, two figures
  3. Gosliner, T.M., Behrens, D.W. & Valdés, Á., 2018. Nudibranch and Sea Slug Identification - Indo-Pacific. New World Publications; 2nd Revised, Updated edition. 452 pp.,, p. 161 as Mexichromis multituberculata.
  4. Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Feb 24). Comment on Mexichromis multituberculata from Bali by Stuart Hutchison. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.[3]

    References