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Additional Photos
underside
dark
pale
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Platydoris formosa (Alder & Hancock,
1864)
Maximum size: 89 mm.
Identification:
This
is a flattened, firm-textured, cream dorid intricately flecked
with light brown. The light brown flecks transition to dark brown on
the rhinophore sheaths and the margin of the notum. The rhinophores are
red and there are red blotches on the underside. Some animals also have
red blotches on the notum.
Natural history:
Platydoris formosa
is a moderately rare species found in tide pools and subtidally to 20 m
(66 ft) at moderately exposed to highly exposed rocky sites. A pair of
large
animals found together appeared to show trailing behavior in a holding
bucket. Scott Johnson also observed trailing in the field on June 2,
1984 off Makua Beach, Oahu. It lays a pale orange egg mass that hatches
in about eight days
in the laboratory.
Distribution:
Big Island, Maui and Oahu: widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific.
Taxonomic notes:
This
species is referred to as the "speckled platydoris" in Hoover,
1998 &
2006 (deleted in 5th printing). It was first reported in Hawaii from
Ala
Moana, Oahu in Dec.,
1961
(Kay & Young, 1969).
Photo: Andy
Schwanke: Molokini Islet; May, 2005.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: ( )
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