Mexichromis trilineata

Mexichromis trilineata is a colourful species of sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch. This marine gastropod mollusc is in the family Chromodorididae.^[3][4] In 2012 the genus Pectenodoris was included into Mexichromis.^[5]

Mexichromis trilineata

Mexichromis trilineata
Mexichromis trilineata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Nudibranchia
Family:	Chromodorididae
Genus:	Mexichromis
Species:	M. trilineata
Binomial name
Mexichromis trilineata (Adams & Reeve, 1850)[1]
Synonyms
Goniodoris trilineata A. Adams & Reeve, 1850 basionym Chromodoris virgata Bergh, 1905[2] Pectenodoris trilineata (A. Adams & Reeve, 1850)

Distribution

Mexichromis trilineata has been found in Sumbawa, Sulawesi and Bali, Indonesia; the Philippines, the South China Sea, Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef and Queensland, Australia.^[6]

Description

Mexichromis trilineata usually ranges from 7 mm to 15 mm in length, with an elongate to broadly oval body shape. The tail extends slightly beyond the posterior margin.^[7] Mexichromis trilineata have three yellow longitudinal bands outlined in white, with the entire mantle edged with a fine white line. They have a few patches of yellow edged with white around the mantle edge, and the defensive mantle glands, arranged around the edge in roughly two series, are visible as pale pink patches.^[8] The gills and rhinophores are typically violet at their bases and then translucent white with red markings.^[9]

Although individuals of Mexichromis trilineata usually have three longitudinal lines as its name suggests, sometimes these lines are broken into a series of shorter lines, while occasionally the outer two lines are absent. Some specimens have yellow or orange markings on the white lines.^[6]