Pectenodoris trilineata

Pectenodoris trilineata
Pectenodoris trilineata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia

clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia

Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Pectenodoris
Species: P. trilineata
Binomial name
Pectenodoris trilineata
Adams & Reeve, 1850
Synonyms

Chromodoris virgata Bergh, 1905

Pectenodoris trilineata is a colourful species of sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch. This marine gastropod mollusc is in the family Chromodorididae.

Pectenodoris trilineata

Description

Pectenodoris trilineata usually ranges from 7 mm to 15 mm in length, with an elongate to broadly oval body shape. The tail extends slightly beyond the posterior margin.

Although individuals of Pectenodoris trilineata usually have three white lines as its name suggests, sometimes these lines are broken into a series of shorter lines, while occasionally the outer two lines are absent. Some specimens have yellow or orange markings on the white lines.[1] Pectenodoris trilineata have three yellow longitudinal bands outlined in white, with the entire mantle edged with a fine white line. They have a few patches of yellow edged with white around the mantle edge, and the defensive mantle glands, arranged around the edge in roughly two series, are visible as pale pink patches.

The gills and rhinophores are typically violet at their bases and then translucent white with red markings.[2]

Distribution

Pectenodoris trilineata has been found in Sulawesi, Bali, Philippines, Indonesia (there described as Chromodoris virgata), South China Sea, Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef and Queensland.[3]

References

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