Goniobranchus geminus explained

Goniobranchus geminus, also known as the gem sea slug,^[1] is a species of very colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.^[2]

Taxonomic history

Until 2012 this species was known as Chromodoris geminus but was moved to the genus Goniobranchus as a result of a molecular (DNA) study.^[3]

Description

Goniobranchus geminus can reach a maximum size of 5 cm in length.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: King. Dennis. Fraser. Valda. The Reef Guide: fishes, corals, nudibranchs and other invertebrates (of the) East and South Coasts of Southern Africa. 2014. Struik Nature. Cape Town. 9781775840183. 316.
2. Bouchet, P. (2012). Goniobranchus geminus. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-05-03
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. 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
5. Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. page(s): 164
6. Rudman, W.B., 1999 (January 22) Chromodoris geminus Rudman, 1987. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.It has four distinctive coloured lines around the mantle edge. Starting from a thin white outer line, then a light grayish line, followed by another white line and finally a bright golden yellow line.^[4] The background coloration from the back is light brown to yellowish speckled with mauve ocelli circled with a white margin.The foot, clearer and with a white margin, also has ocelli.The rhinophores are yellow or purple and laminated, gills are white outlined with beige.^[5]

   Distribution and habitat

   This sea slug lives in the Indian Ocean from Kenya to Sri Lanka and in the Red Sea and has a predilection for the external slopes of coral reefs.

   Similar species

   • Goniobranchus kuniei (Pruvot-Fol, 1930).
   • Goniobranchus leopardus (Rudman, 1987).
   • Hypselodoris tryoni (Garrett, 1873).
   • Goniobranchus tritos (Yonow, 1994).

   External links