OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK
Chromodoris fidelis (Kelaart, 1858) 24mm
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
- Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
- Suborder: Doridina
- Family: Chromodorididae
Frequency on Okinawa:
Collection Data:
- Individual Collection No: RFB #2158
- Location: Seragaki (26o 30.4'N, 127o 52.6'E) [Horseshoe
Cliffs, Onna Flats, Tengan]
- Date: 13 May, 1989 [May~Jun '89, Mar(3 specimens), Jul '91, Jun '92, Jan, Feb,
May '93]
- Depth: 30ft (9.1m) [Intertidal~40ft]
- Size: TL 24mm [7~24mm]
- Water temperature at collection depth: Unrecorded
- Specimen deposited: Unknown disposition (photo only?)
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]
Species Account:
Chromodoris fidelis is considered to be uncommon here, although at Tengan Pier (26o24.0'N, 127o51.1'E) it is frequently seen crawling about on mixed silty sand and shell rubble (in approximately 40ft) during most months. I have collected ten specimens between 1989 and 1993, and have seen perhaps that many more.
This attractively pigmented little dorid has both its color and pattern fairly consistent without much appreciable variation.
Copyright © 1999 Robert F. Bolland
Digitally manipulated photo
