Goniobranchus tasmaniensis is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.Gofas, S. (2015). Goniobranchus tasmaniensis (Bergh, 1905). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-03-26Johnson 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
Distribution This species was described from Tasmania, Australia. It is one of a group of similar red-spotted chromodorids from south-eastern Australia which form a mimicry ring.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.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
Description Goniobranchus tasmaniensis is a chromodorid nudibranch which has a translucent white mantle with scattered orange or red spots. The edge of the mantle is opaque white and somewhat swollen and ruffled in resting animals.Rudman, W.B., 1999 (June 1) Chromodoris tasmaniensis (Bergh, 1905). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Compare with Goniobranchus splendidus, Goniobranchus hunterae and Goniobranchus daphne which all have similar coloration.Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. page(s): 156
Ecology This species feeds on the sponge Darwinella gardineri.
References