Goniobranchus splendidus

Goniobranchus splendidus

"Goniobranchus splendidus" is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae. The specific epithet "splendida" means splendid in reference to the colouring, because this nudibranch has large red spots on a white background, a yellow line at the mantle edge, and magenta rhinophores.
Red Spots Nudibranch - Goniobranchus splendidus Australia,Goniobranchus splendidus,Nelson Bay,New South Wales,Nudibranch,Splendid Goniobranch

Appearance

"Goniobranchus splendidus" is a chromodorid nudibranch which has an opaque white mantle with large, scattered red spots. In the northern part of its range these spots coalesce and may form a single large red patch in the middle of the back. The edge of the mantle is yellow. The rhinophore clubs are red with white edges to the lamellae. The gills have a two fine red lines on the outer rachis and white leaves.Rudman, W.B., 1999 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Compare with "Goniobranchus daphne", "Goniobranchus hunterae" and "Goniobranchus tasmaniensis" which all have similar coloration.

Distribution

This species was described from Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of a group of similar red-spotted chromodorids from south-eastern Australia which form a mimicry ring.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionMollusca
ClassGastropoda
OrderNudibranchia
FamilyChromodorididae
GenusGoniobranchus
SpeciesG. splendidus
Photographed in
Australia