Chromodoris boucheti

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Chromodoris boucheti
Chromodorididae - Chromodoris boucheti.jpg
Chromodoris boucheti in the Maldives
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Infraclass: Euthyneura
Order: Nudibranchia
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Chromodoris
Species:
C. boucheti
Binomial name
Chromodoris boucheti
Rudman, 1982 [1]


Chromodoris boucheti is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae. [2]

In biology, a species ( ) is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. Other ways of defining species include their karyotype, DNA sequence, morphology, behaviour or ecological niche. In addition, paleontologists use the concept of the chronospecies since fossil reproduction cannot be examined. While these definitions may seem adequate, when looked at more closely they represent problematic species concepts. For example, the boundaries between closely related species become unclear with hybridisation, in a species complex of hundreds of similar microspecies, and in a ring species. Also, among organisms that reproduce only asexually, the concept of a reproductive species breaks down, and each clone is potentially a microspecies.

Sea slug group of marine invertebrates with varying levels of resemblance to terrestrial slugs

Sea slug is a common name for some marine invertebrates with varying levels of resemblance to terrestrial slugs. Most creatures known as sea slugs are actually gastropods, i.e. they are sea snails that over evolutionary time have either completely lost their shells, or have seemingly lost their shells due to having a greatly reduced or internal shell. The name "sea slug" is most often applied to nudibranchs, as well as to a paraphyletic set of other marine gastropods without obvious shells.

Nudibranch order of molluscs

Nudibranchs are a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms, and they have been given colourful nicknames to match, such as "clown", "marigold", "splendid", "dancer", and "dragon". Currently, about 3,000 valid species of nudibranchs are known.

Contents

Etymology

This species is named after the malacologist Philippe Bouchet.

Philippe Bouchet French zoologist and malacologist

Philippe Bouchet is a French biologist whose primary scientific fields of study are malacology and taxonomy. He works at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. He is also a Commissioner of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.

Chromodoris boucheti displaying the characteristic black markings on the inner edges of its gills Chromodorididae - Chromodoris boucheti-001.jpg
Chromodoris boucheti displaying the characteristic black markings on the inner edges of its gills

Distribution

This species was described from the Northern entrance to Longogoni Passage, Mayotte, Comoro Islands, Indian Ocean. [1] It is distributed on the East African coast from Tanzania to South Africa and in the Indian Ocean from the Maldives to Indonesia. [3]

Mayotte Overseas region and department in France

Mayotte is an overseas department and region of France officially named the Department of Mayotte. It consists of a main island, Grande-Terre, a smaller island, Petite-Terre, and several islets around these two. The archipelago is located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Southeast Africa, between northwestern Madagascar and northeastern Mozambique. The department status of Mayotte is recent and the region remains, by a significant margin, the poorest in France. Mayotte is nevertheless much more prosperous than the other countries of the Mozambique Channel, making it a major destination for illegal immigration.

Comoro Islands archipelago in the Indian Ocean

The Comoro Islands or Comoros form an archipelago of volcanic islands situated off the south-east coast of Africa, to the east of Mozambique and north-west of Madagascar. The islet of Banc du Geyser and the Glorioso Islands are part of the archipelago. The islands are politically divided between Union of the Comoros and two territories of France : the region of Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands, a part of the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, the 5th district of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Indian Ocean The ocean between Africa, Asia, Australia and Antarctica (or the Southern Ocean)

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering 70,560,000 km2 (27,240,000 sq mi). It is bounded by Asia on the north, on the west by Africa, on the east by Australia, and on the south by the Southern Ocean or, depending on definition, by Antarctica.

Description

Chromodoris boucheti can reach a length of 30–50 mm. The upper surface of the body is bluish white, with longitudinal black lines and yellow rhinophores. The lower half of the gills is white, the upper half is yellow. Moreover, this species shows characteristic black markings running up from the base on the inside and outside edge of its gills. The inner black marking is quite pronounced. It is similar in colour pattern to Chromodoris elisabethina and Chromodoris lochi .

<i>Chromodoris elisabethina</i> species of mollusc

Chromodoris elisabethina is a species of very colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Chromodoris lochi</i> species of mollusc

Chromodoris lochi, common name Loch's chromodoris, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Habitat

This species can be found on the coral reefs to depths of 35 meters.

Related Research Articles

<i>Chromodoris willani</i> species of mollusc

Chromodoris willani is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae. The species is named for the renowned nudibranch taxonomist Dr. Richard C. Willan.

<i>Chromodoris annae</i> species of mollusc

Chromodoris annae is a species of sea slug, a very colourful nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Goniobranchus coi</i> species of mollusc

Goniobranchus coi is a species of very colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Goniobranchus geminus</i> species of mollusc

Goniobranchus geminus, also known as the gem sea slug, is a species of very colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Chromodoris dianae</i> species of mollusc

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<i>Chromodoris strigata</i> species of mollusc

Chromodoris strigata, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Chromodoris africana</i> species of mollusc

Chromodoris africana, or four-coloured nudibranch, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

Chromodoris burni is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

Goniobranchus kitae is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

Chromodoris colemani is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Chromodoris lineolata</i> species of mollusc

Chromodoris lineolata is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

Hypselodoris jacksoni is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Hypselodoris kanga is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Hypselodoris maritima</i> species of mollusc

Hypselodoris maritima is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Hypselodoris nigrolineata is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Hypselodoris placida is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Mexichromis pusilla</i> species of mollusc

Mexichromis pusilla is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Mexichromis lemniscata is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

References

  1. 1 2 Rudman, W.B. 1982. The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris quadricolor, C. lineolata and Hypselodoris nigrolineata colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 76: 183-241. page(s): 190
  2. ↑ Caballer, M. (2014). Chromodoris boucheti Rudman, 1982. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-02-12
  3. ↑ Rudman, W.B., 1999 (November 18) Chromodoris boucheti Rudman, 1982. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
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