*** Welcome to piglix ***

Chromodorididae

Chromodorididae
Glossodoris atromarginata 1.jpg
Glossodoris atromarginata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia

clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia

Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Bergh, 1891
Type genus
Chromodoris
Genera

See text.

Synonyms
  • Cadlinellinae Odhner, 1934
  • Ceratosomatidae Gray, 1857 (Under Art. 23.9, declared nomen oblitum by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
  • Doriprismaticinae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1858 (Under Art. 23.9, declared nomen oblitum by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
  • Glossodorididae O'Donoghue, 1924
  • Lissodoridinae Odhner, 1968
  • Miamiridae Bergh, 1891
  • Thorunninae Odhner, 1926

clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia

See text.

The Chromodorididae, or chromodorids, are a taxonomic family of colorful, sea slugs; dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Doridoidea. “Chromodorid nudibranchs are among the most gorgeously colored of all animals.” The over 360 described species are primarily found in tropical and subtropical waters, as members of coral reef communities, specifically associated with their sponge prey. The chromodorids are the most speciose family of opisthobranchs. They range in size from <1mm to over 30 cm, although most species are approximately 2–3 cm in size.

Although, they have a worldwide distribution, most species are found in the Indo-Pacific region. A scientific paper published in 2007, found the most widespread chromodorid genera, (Mexichromis, Chromodoris, Glossodoris and Hypselodoris) to be paraphyletic or polyphyletic.

The family Cadlinidae Bergh, 1891 has been considered a synonym of the Chromodorididae." Research by R.F. Johnson in 2011 has shown that Cadlina does not belong to the family Chromodorididae. She has therefore brought back the name Cadlinidae from synonymy with Chromodorididae. The chromodorid nudibranchs without Cadlina are now monophyletic and turn out to be a possible sister to the family Actinocyclidae. Cadlina and Aldisa are the only two genera currently classified in the Cadlinidae.


...
Wikipedia

...