This species is common in the Marshall Islands, but only in very shallow water, usually from the intertidal to depths of about 5 meters, although they are occasionally seen as deep as 15 meters. Like most of the local chromodorids, they usually live under rocks that have a good growth of encrusting organisms such as sponges and bryozoans on the undersurfaces. Specimens we've seen have ranged up to about 25mm long. We have found this species at Enewetak, Kwajalein, Bikini and Utirik Atolls. Stan Jazwinski photographed it at Ailinglaplap and many specimens were observed at Rongelap Atoll by John and Lynette Flynn. It was first reported in the Marshalls from Enewetak Atoll as Chromodoris lilacina by Young (1967).
This specimen immediately below is from Utirik Atoll; some of the ones you see here in the Marshalls have paler purple dots and a lighter orange margin.
Here is the specimen from Ailinglaplap.
This is typical coloration for Marshall Islands Chromodoris aspersa.
Some specimens, however, tend toward yellow or light orange backgrounds.
The specimen below was one of the smaller ones.
This one was a very pale specimen found on a Kwajalein Atoll lagoon reef under a rock in 2m of water on 21 September 2009.
The two in the photo below were observed eating the red sponge they are on.
A very pale individual along with a more typically colored one.
We have also seen these in other areas including Hawaii and the Solomon Islands.
Created 19 December 2005
Updated 14 August 2021