Guide to Opisthobranchs Nudibranchia Doridina Doridoidei Doridoidea Felimida purpurea

Felimida purpurea

Felimida purpurea (Risso, 1831)

Felimida purpurea @ Cala Montgó, L'Escala, Spain 5-03-2016 by Pontes, Miquel

Taxonomy

	Superdomain	Biota
	Kingdom	Animalia
	Phylum	Mollusca
	Class	Gastropoda
	Subclass	Heterobranchia
	Infraclass	Euthyneura
	Subterclass	Ringipleura
	Superorder	Nudipleura
	Order	Nudibranchia
	Suborder	Doridina
	Infraorder	Doridoidei
	Superfamily	Chromodoridoidea
	Family	Chromodorididae
	Subfamily	Chromodoridinae
	Genus	Felimida
	Species	Felimida purpurea (Risso, 1831)

	Classification according to Bouchet et al. (2017) Taxonomic source: World Register of Marine Species (AphiaID: 597409).

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.

Synonyms

Chromodoris purpurea (Risso, 1831)
Doris albescens Schultz in Philippi, 1836
Doris piraini Vérany, 1846
Doris purpurea Risso, 1831 (original)

Description
The specimens of this species can grow up to 30-40 mm in length. This is one of the least pigmented species chromodorids since the body is white with a gold-yellow margin. Around the edge of the mantle, and inside the yellow margin, there are numerous irregularly shaped whitish glands, that can be appreciated by transparency, corresponding to the defensive MDFs. On the back there could also be a series of light pink blotches. The rhinophores are crimson or purple and have about 20 tightly set lamellae, the apex of the rhinophores is white, the sheath is relatively low, flat on its upper edge and colored white. The largest specimens can have up to 17 branchial leaves tightly set around the anal papilla. The branchial leaves are purple and consist of an axis or rachis with lamellae at both sides, alternatively large and small. The apex of the branchial leaves is white. The anal papilla is white or slightly pink. The foot stands far behind the mantle border and it has a yellow line along the border, from the central area to the tail.

Biology
This species lives on rocky infralittoral, under stones, or on coralline sponges. It feeds on several species of sponges, such as Phorbas tenacior or Spongionella pulchella. It is a common species.

Etymology

Purpurea. From Greek “porphýra” derived into Latín “purpura”, coloured purple, violet, lilac.

Distribution
This is an European distribution species that inhabits the whole Mediterranean Sea and close eastern Atlantic, from northern Europe to Cape Verde, having been cited also in Açores and Madeira. In the Iberian Coast it has been cited all along the coast, also in the Canaries and the Balearic islands. In the Catalan coast it has been located in different localities of the Costa Brava, Illes Formigues (Calella), Cala Sant Francesc and Blanes, among others.

Known georeferenced records of the species: Felimida purpurea
Sources:
: OBIS : GROC 2010-2011 : Enric Madrenas : João Pedro Silva : Bernard Picton : GBIF.ORG	: OPK : VIMAR : Manuel Ballesteros. : M@re Nostrum : Altres fonts : Marine Regions

Abundance

Western Mediterranean:	★★☆☆☆
Eastern Mediterranean:	★★☆☆☆
Atlantic Ocean:	★★☆☆☆

Month

This chart displays the monthly observation probability for Felimida purpurea based on our own records.

Videos

More pictures

Felimida purpurea

Felimida purpurea (Atlantic) en cópula, by Carlos Fernández-Cid

Felimida purpurea (Portugal) by Joao Pedro Silva

Felimida purpurea @ Mallorca by Lenka Juskaničová

Felimida purpurea by Enric Madrenas

Felimida purpurea @ Islas Canarias by Aketza Herrero

Felimida purpurea @ Sicily, Italy by Lara Orselli

Felimida purpurea @ Eivissa, Spain by Joan Pereyra

Felimida purpurea @ France by Pascal Girard

Felimida purpurea @ Costa Brava, Spain by Manuel Ballesteros

Felimida purpurea @ Ceuta by David Ballesteros

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Further reading

Cite this article as:

Ballesteros, M., Madrenas, E. & Pontes, M. (2012-2025) "Felimida purpurea" in OPK-Opistobranquis. Published: 15/05/2012. Accessed: 03/02/2025. Available at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/?p=430)

Felimida purpurea