Goniobranchus splendidus (Angas, 1864)

Description

A medium-sized chromodorid reaching about 35 mm in body length and 11 mm in width. The body is somewhat elongate-oval and bright lemon-yellow. The mantle is broad with scattered large purple-red spots. The posterior end of the foot is bordered with an orange band. The gills are numerous, pinnate, and the gills and rhinophores are purple-red, paler yellow only at their bases. The oral tentacles are conspicuous. Angas's type material is two specimens, 35 mm long and 11 mm wide, collected in October at Shark Island and at Watson's Bay. Angas described the species as remarkable for its showy colour pattern and rather rare.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific to the central Pacific. Type locality: Shark Island and Watson's Bay (within Port-Jackson Harbour), New South Wales, based on two specimens collected by Angas. Subsequently recorded from across eastern Australia, New Zealand, southern Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and elsewhere.

Etymology

The specific epithet splendidus is the Latin adjective meaning "splendid, brilliant", in reference to the showy contrast between the bright yellow ground and purple-red spots.

Remarks

Originally placed by Angas in Goniodoris. Later transferred to Goniobranchus; the parentheses in the author citation reflect this generic transfer.

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References

• Goniodoris splendida Angas n. sp., Angas G.F. (1864). Description d'espèces nouvelles appartenant à plusieurs genres de Mollusques Nudibranches des environs de Port-Jackson (Nouvelle-Galles du Sud), accompagnée de dessins faits d'après nature. Journal de Conchyliologie, 12(1): 43-70, pl. IV.
• Goniobranchus splendidus, 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.
• Goniobranchus splendidus (red-reticulate complex), Soong G.Y., Wilson N.G. & Reimer J.D. (2020). A species complex within the red-reticulate Goniobranchus Pease, 1866 (Nudibranchia: Doridina: Chromodorididae). Marine Biodiversity. 50: 25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-020-01048-w