Platydoris carolynae is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, shell-less marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Discodorididae.[2]

Platydoris carolynae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Family: Discodorididae
Genus: Platydoris
Species:
P. carolynae
Binomial name
Platydoris carolynae
Mulliner & Sphon, 1974[1]

Distribution

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The holotype for this species was collected intertidally at the docking area for the Charles Darwin Research Station, 0°44′38″S 90°18′24″W / 0.744011°S 90.306749°W / -0.744011; -90.306749, Galapagos Islands in 1964. Seven paratype specimens were collected from the intertidal zone down to 10 m depth in 1971 and 1972 from Santa Cruz Island, Jervis Island and Isabella Island. The 1971 specimens were collected by the Ameripagos expedition which carried out the first investigations into the nudibranchs of the Galapagos Islands.[3]

Description

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Platydoris carolynae is a large, flattened dorid nudibranch with a distinctive pattern of irregular, merging black or brown markings on a cream background. Adults grow to at least 45 mm in length and 32 mm wide. The underside of the mantle is also cream with black or brown spotting, each spot made up of multiple fine cross-hatched lines. The rhinophores are tan-coloured with dark brown spots. The gills are translucent with dark brown or black specks.[1][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Mulliner, D. K.; Sphon, G. G. (1974). A New Platydoris Gastropoda Nudibranchia From The Galapagos Islands. Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History. 17: 209-216.
  2. ^ MolluscaBase (2018). Platydoris carolynae Mulliner & Sphon, 1974. Accessed on 2018-11-15.
  3. ^ Sphon, G. G.; D. K. Mulliner, 1972. A preliminary list of known opisthobranchs from the Galapagos Islands Collected by the Ameripagos Expedition. Veliger 15(2): 147-152.
  4. ^ Miller, M., 1999. Platydoris carolynae The Slug Site, Miller M. ed., accessed 2018-11-16.