Jorunna funebris
Mourning dorid
Djibouti · Red Sea - Bab el Mandeb strait (Gulf of Aden)
- Size
- 30–60 mm · max 70 mm
- Native range
- Indo-West and central Pacific, from South Africa to Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Palau.
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Description
A conspicuous dorid nudibranch with a firm, finely velvety (tomentose) body. Its black-and-white ringed pattern gave it the common name 'mourning dorid'; it is often seen feeding on blue-purple sponges.
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Identification
White to cream body covered with dark brown to black rings of varying size, larger in the middle of the back, each filled with fine dark speckles. Rhinophores are white with black bases and tips; the white gills have black lines along the branches.
Similar species
The pattern of dark rings on a white body is distinctive; the black-tipped rhinophores and black-lined gills confirm the identification.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Shallow coral and rocky reefs, typically on or near its sponge prey.
Food
Sponges, particularly blue-purple species of Xestospongia.
