Goniobranchus geometricus is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.[2][3]
Distribution
This species was described from New Caledonia. It is found throughout the Indian Ocean as well as the Western Pacific Ocean from the intertidal down to 30 m (98 ft).[4][5]
Description
Goniobranchus geometricus is a small nudibranch which may grow to a total length of 35mm. It is variably coloured, with the ground colour ranging from a creamy brown to purple, The mantle has numerous cream-coloured bumps and has a white margin. The gills and rhinophores are white to greenish.[5] It is very similar to Goniobranchus conchyliatus but has green-grey rhinophores and gills whilst G. conchyliatus has red ones.[4][6][7]
Ecology
This animal feeds on the sponge Chelonaplysilla violacea.[8]
References
- ^ Risbec, J. (1928). Contribution à l'étude des Nudibranches néo-calédoniens. Faune des Colonies Françaises. 2(1):1-328, figs. 1-98, pls. 1-12, maps.
- ^ a b Bouchet, P. (2012). Goniobranchus geometricus. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-05-03
- ^ 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
- ^ a b Rudman, W.B., 1999 (January 15) Chromodoris geometrica Risbec, 1928. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
- ^ a b King, D. & Fraser, V. 2001. More Reef Fishes and Nudibranchs Struik, Cape Town. ISBN 1-86872-686-X
- ^ Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. ISBN 978-3-939767-06-0 page(s): 164
- ^ Gosliner, T.M., Behrens, D.W. & Valdés, Á. (2008) Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs and seaslugs. A field guide to the world's most diverse fauna. Sea Challengers Natural History Books, Washington, 426 pp. page(s): 220
- ^ Rudman, W. B. & Bergquist, P. R. (2007) A review of feeding specificity in the sponge-feeding Chromodorididae (Nudibranchia: Mollusca). Molluscan Research, 27(2): 60-88
External links
- Photos of Goniobranchus geometricus on Sealife Collection
