Goniobranchus hunterae

Goniobranchus hunterae is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.[2][3]

Goniobranchus hunterae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Doridina
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Goniobranchus
Species:
G. hunterae
Binomial name
Goniobranchus hunterae
(Rudman, 1983) [1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Chromodoris hunterae Rudman, 1983 (basionym)

Distribution

This species was described from La Perouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of a group of similar red-spotted chromodorids from south-eastern Australia which form a mimicry ring.[4][5]

Description

Goniobranchus hunterae is a chromodorid nudibranch which has an translucent white mantle with scattered red spots. The edge of the mantle is yellow with opaque white glands showing through the skin just inside this region. The rhinophore clubs are translucent with white pigment towards the tip. The gills have opaque white lines on the outer rachis and translucent white leaves. The body reaches a length of 25 mm.[6] Compare with Goniobranchus daphne, Goniobranchus splendidus and Goniobranchus tasmaniensis which all have similar coloration.[7]

References
  1. Rudman W.B. (1983) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris splendida, C. aspersa and Hypselodoris placida colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 78: 105-173. page(s): 112
  2. Bouchet, P. (2012). Goniobranchus hunterae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-05-05
  3. Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012) Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33479
  4. Rudman, W.B. (1991) Purpose in Pattern: the evolution of colour in chromodorid nudibranchs. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 57, (T.E. Thompson Memorial Issue): 5-21.
  5. Rudman W.B. (1983) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris splendida, C. aspersa and Hypselodoris placida colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 78: 105-173. page(s): 114
  6. Rudman, W.B., 1999 (June 1) Chromodoris hunterae (Rudman, 1983). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  7. Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. ISBN 978-3-939767-06-0 page(s): 158
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