Porter’s Chromodorid, Felimida porterae

Porter’s Chromodorid, Felimida 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 this family, and there are forty-four species in this genus.  In Mexico they are known as Chromodorido de Porter.

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 temperate Eastern Pacific species. In Mexican waters they have a limited range being found from the northern border south to Bahía Tortuga, Baja California Sur.

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, polychaetes, and sea stars.

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.