About Chromodoris lochi Rudman, 1982
Chromodoris lochi Rudman, 1982 is a species of dorid nudibranch. Its body is blue or bluish-white with a white margin, and typically has dark or black lines running down the mantle and foot. On the mantle, a continuous black line runs around the outer border, passing outside the rhinophores, while a second median black line may be discontinuous. Fully grown individuals reach at least 4 centimeters in total length. This species shows noticeable individual variation: its retractile gills and contractile rhinophores can range in color from translucent straw-colored to pink and light orange. It is very similar in outward appearance to Chromodoris willani, Chromodoris boucheti and Chromodoris dianae, and can be hard to distinguish from these species. Its key identifying trait is the uniform coloration of its mantle, which lacks the white specks found on some of these similar species. Recent research has found that multiple distinct species are currently misidentified as Chromodoris lochi. This species occurs in the tropical waters of the central Indo-Pacific region, with a known range stretching from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines to Fiji and the northern coast of Australia. Like many other dorid nudibranchs, Chromodoris lochi feeds on sponges. It has been recorded eating Cacospongia mycofijiensis and Semitaspongia, both genera in the sponge family Thorectidae.
