OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK
Platydoris cruenta (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832) 72mm
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
- Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
- Suborder: Doridina
- Family: Platydorididae
Frequency on Okinawa:
Collection Data:
- Individual Collection No: RFB #2382-A
- Location: Seragaki (26o 30.4'N, 127o 52.6'E)
- Date: 19 May, 1990 [Jun '87, Aug '89, May '90]
- Depth: 5ft (1.5m) [5ft, 10ft, 200ft]
- Water temperature at collection depth: 78.4oF (25.8oC)
- Size: TL 72mm [54mm, 72mm, 78mm]
- Specimen deposited: Photo only, without specimen
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]
Species Account:
Platydoris cruenta is considered to be uncommon on Okinawa, although I've only collected 3 specimens, I've seen but neither photographed nor collected perhaps an additional half dozen others. The featured animal was found beneath a slab of coral
rubble overlying a large patch of silty-sand.
Etymology:
- L. cruento, to make bloody. Having reference to the blood-red spots on the dorsum.
Page Date: 04 Aug '87
Page Modification Date: 31 Mar '03
Digitally manipulated photo
Copyright © 2003 Robert F. Bolland
