Selection: Durvilledoris similaris

Durvilledoris similaris Rudman, 1986

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There are many similar coloured chromodorids with a pink or purple background colour and longitudinal white lines which Bill Rudman calls the "Noumea purpurea colour group". The mantle of Durvilledoris similaris is translucent pinkish purple with a white mantle margin. On the inside edge of the white margin there are diffuse purple patches. There is a median white line which forms a ring around the gill pocket. The upper half of the rhinophores and gills is translucent red/orange, the lower half is pale.
Pretty similar are:
Noumea norba, which has also a white band around the gill pocket but a pale pink mantle,
Noumea alboannulata which has an opaque white band in the midline which splits just behind the rhinophores to form an elongate oval which encircles the gill pocket and
Durvilledoris pusilla which has an pale pink mantle with an elongate white streak in the midline between the rhinophores and another in front of the gills, but not around the gill pocket.
More informations on Durvilledoris similaris are at Bill Rudman's Sea-Slug Forum!