Goniodoris castanea explained

Goniodoris castanea is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.^[1]

Distribution

This species was first described from Salcombe Estuary, Devon. It has subsequently been reported widely in Britain and Ireland and from Norway to the Mediterranean Sea.^{[2] [3]}

Description

This goniodorid nudibranch is variable in colour, usually red-brown or dark purple but also bright red. Most individuals have scattered irregular small patches of white or grey all over the body.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Gofas, S. (2015). Goniodoris castanea Alder & Hancock, 1845. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 20 October 2015
2. Thompson, T.E. and Brown, G.H., 1984. Biology of Opisthobranch Molluscs, Volume II. The Ray Society. 229 pages 41 plates, 40 figures, p. 125.
3. Trainito, E. & Doneddu, M., 2014. Nudibranchi del Mediterraneo. 2nd Edition. Il Castello., 192 pages.
4. Book: Editrice La Conchiglia. Giannuzzi-Savelli. Riccardo. Chemello. Renato. Cattaneo-Vietti. Riccardo. Atlas of Mediterranean nudibranchs. Atlante dei nudibranchi del Mediterraneo. Roma. 1991.
5. Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2015). Goniodoris castanea Alder & Hancock, 1845. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. Accessed on 2015-10-20

   Its body length is usually 15 mm. The maximum recorded body length is 38 mm.^[4]

   Ecology

   Goniodoris castanea feeds on tunicates of the genera Botryllus and Botrylloides, family Botryllidae.

   External links