Home Acknowledgments Conventions Glossary Maps References Links Articles Thumbnails Species list Family Next species _______________   Additional Photos   cream   pink   young, 8 mm   with egg mass _______________   GALLERY	Gymnodoris bicolor (Alder and Hancock, 1866)   Maximum size:  22 mm (Kay, 1979). Identification:  The background color of this species varies from cream through orange to pale pink. It's decorated with small orange spots. The branchia form a nearly complete circle around the anus and the oral tentacles are broad. It can be distinguished from the similar appearing Gymnodoris sp. #2 by its lack of nipple-like tips on its rhinophores and its broad oral tentacles. It can be distinguished from the nearly identical Gymnodoris citrina be the location of its genital opening  (immediately behind the branchia in G. bicolor and well forward of the branchia in G. citrina) and by its more rounded oral tentacles. Natural history:  Gymnodoris bicolor is a moderately common species found in protected to moderately exposed rocky habitats at depths of < 1 to 10 m (< 3 to 33 ft). Like G. citrina, it feeds on other species of Gymnodoris. (Kay, 1979) (Note 1) It lays an orange spiral egg mass that hatches in about eight days in the laboratory. Distribution:  Maui, Oahu, Kauai and French Frigate Shoals. Taxonomic notes:  It was first reported from Hawaii in Kay & Young, 1969. Photo:  CP: orange: Hekili Point, Maui; Oct. 19, 2001. Observations and comments: Note 1:  We haven't had a chance to test for it recently. But, we can't recall any instance of this species eating other Gymnodoris spp while held. Therefore, there's at least some possibility that previous reports of that behavior might be based on mistakenly identified specimens of the very similar appearing Gymnodoris citrina.
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