Chromolaichma edmundsi

Chromolaichma edmundsi (Cervera, Garcia-Gomez & Ortea, 1989)

Chromolaichma edmundsi @ Sardina del Norte, Gran Canaria 1-09-2011 by Aketza Herrero by Aketza Herrero

Taxonomic note: The European Atlantic and Mediterranean species of the genus Chromodoris and Hypselodoris have been reconsidered. After molecular analysis of the Chromodorididae performed by Johnson & Gosliner (2012, Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): 33479) the Hypselodoris species have been included in the genus Felimare Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1967 and the Chromodoris species have been included in the genus Felimida Ev. Marcus, 1971.

However, a recent study by Matsuda and Gosliner (2017) employed molecular phylogenetic analyses to investigate the relationships within the family Chromodorididae. Their research revealed that Felimida edmundsi clustered in a distinct clade with Felimida dalli and Doriprismatica sedna that is more accurately represented by the genus Chromolaichma. Consequently, Felimida edmundsi was reclassified as Chromolaichma edmundsi to reflect these phylogenetic findings.

Synonyms

• Glossodoris edmundsi Cervera, Garcia-Gomez & Ortea, 1989
• Felimida edmundsi (Cervera, Garcia-Gomez & Ortea, 1989)

Description
The body is elongated and predominantly greyish-blue, speckled with irregular black spots and numerous small, circular orange spots, each encircled by smaller yellow ones. The mantle edge is prominently extended, slightly pleated, and adorned with an orange border punctuated by white spots, which correspond to the subepidermal formations characteristic of chromodorids. The dorsal mantle surface is covered in numerous small protuberances. The foot extends beyond the posterior mantle edge and features a distinct orange line along its posterior margin. The perfoliate rhinophores, greyish-blue in coloration, bear 17–19 lamellae and are marked by three prominent orange lines that converge at the apex. The branchial tuft comprises up to 30 gills, with the posterior ends curving into spirals. The gills are translucent greyish, displaying orange pigmentation along both the internal and external rachis edges near their tips. Both the rhinophoral and branchial orifices are accentuated by an orange ring. The anal papilla is greyish-blue, with a cream-colored orifice.

Biology
Details of its biology are unknown as this is a rare species. Some authors think this is the same species a Felimida ghanensis.

Etymology

• Chromolaichma. Derived from Greek “chróma” (​χρώμα), “color” and “aichmí” (αιχμή), “spear”, meaning “colorful spear-point”, referring to the bright colors of the living animals and the elongate, spear-like radula; the letter “l” was inserted for euphony.
• Edmundsi. In honor to Dr. Malcolm Edmunds, British opisthobranch researcher at the University of Central Lancashire (United Kingdom).

Distribution
So far it is found in the Macaronesia (Canary Islands, Madeira, Açores…) and São Tomé & Príncipe.

More pictures

Bibliography

1246567 Chromolaichma edmundsi 1 eunomia-revista-en-cultura-de-la-legalidad 50 creator asc 1 15831 https://opistobranquis.info/wp-content/plugins/zotpress/
Bibliography based on the works by Steve Long, 2006. Bibliography of Opisthobranchia 1554-2000 and Gary McDonald, 2009. Bibliographia Nudibranchia, with later updates from other resources.

Further reading

• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Flickr pictures
• Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera
• NCBI GenBank
• OBIS - Search by Taxon
• Sea Slug Forum
• World Register of Marine Species

Cite this article as: