Porter’s Chromodorid, Felimare porterae
Porter’s Chromodorid, Felimare porterae. Underwater photographs taken in the coastal waters off San Diego, California, March 2018. Photographs courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.
Phylogeny: Porter’s Chromodorid, Felimare porterae (Cockerell, 1901), is a member of the Chromodorididae Family of Nudibranchs. The genus Felimare is one of sixteen genera in the Chromodorididae Family, and there are forty-four species in the Felimare genus. They are known in Mexico as Chromodorido de Porter. The genus name Felimare comes from the Latin words meaning “sea cat”. It seems that this name was based more on whimsy than on any actual morphological characteristics. This species was named, by her husband, in honor of Wilmatte Porter Cockerell, who was a naturalist and educator.
Morphology: Porter’s Chromodorid has an elongate oval outline, with a broadly rounded tail. They are dark blue in color, with two, lateral, yellow-orange stripes running along the back. The midline of the back, and the margins of the mantle are pale. The rhinophores are darker blue. Porter’s Chromodorids reach a maximum of 3.4 cm (1.4 inches) in length.
Habitat and Distribution: Porter’s Chromodorids are found on rocks. They live in the low intertidal zone, to dephts up to 50 m (165 feet). They are a subtropical Eastern Pacific species that have a limited range in Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean being found north of Bahía Tortuga, Baja California Sur, along the central and northwest coasts of the Baja Peninsula.
Diet: Porter’s Chromodorids are predatory carnivores that feed on Dysideid Sponges and especially Dysidea amblia.
Predators: Porter’s Chromodorids have the ability to store toxins from their prey which helps them avoid predation. Despite this defense mechanism Chromodorids are prey for crabs, fish, other nudibranch species, sea stars and polychaete worms.
Reproduction: Porter’s Chromodorids are simultaneous hermaphrodites (having both male and female reproductive organs at the same time). Reproduction is sexual, with internal fertilization. The eggs are laid as a sticky mass on the surface of the reef or other hard surface. Neither parent tends or protects the eggs. The eggs hatch into planktonic larva and then settle to the bottom to begin benthic life.
Ecosystem Interactions: There are no documented commensal or parasitic relationships between Porter’s Chromodorids and other species.
Human Interactions: Porter’s Chromodorids have no direct impact on human activities. From a conservation perspective they have not been formally evaluated however they are fairly common with a relatively wide distribution and should be consider to be of Least Concern.
Synonyms: Chromodoris porterae, Glossodoris porterae, Hypselodoris porterae, and Mexichromis porterae.