Asteronotus spongicolus Gosliner & Valdés, 2002

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This species has been observed on Mayotte Island


Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Euctenidiacea
Superfamily : Doridoidea
Family : Discodorididae
Distribution : Indo West Pacific
Maximal size : 30 mm
Abundance :

Species characteristics :

Body yellowish green to brown with scattered, opaque white and dark brown to black spots on the notum.

A medial longitudinal line of lighter pigment extends from anterior of the rhinophores to the anterior edge of the branchial pocket

The rhinophores are perfoliate with 10 lamellae, have opaque white spots on the base and middle regions and an opaque white apex

Found abundantly in 1-3m depth, on the under sides of Carteriospongia sp.

asteronotus spongicolus
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Photo Frédéric Ducarme
Mayotte, Mtsanga Fanou on Carteriospongia foliascens, May 2018

Remarks :

  Synonymous : (according worms) :
               - No other name

Bibliographic data :

Notum may be entirely smooth or possess a few slightly elevated tubercles.
    Eight lobes are found along the margin of the rhinophoral sheaths where there is also a concentration of opaque white spots.
    The gill consists of 5-6 tripinnate branchial leaves, bearing many scattered, opaque white spots, and having the same colour as the body. Six distinct lobes are found in the gill pocket which also has a concentration of opaque white spots along its margin.

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Asteronotus spongicolus
   Philippines Seaslug Asteronotus spongicolus

Publications :

Gosliner, T. M.; Valdés, Á. (2002). Sponging off of Porifera: new species of cryptic dorid nudibranchs (Mollusca, Nudibranchia) from the tropical Indo-Pacific. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. (4) 53(5): 51-61

Other photos Asteronotus spongicolus :



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