This species has been observed on Reunion, Mauritius, Mayotte, Madagascar and Seychelles Islands

Order : Nudibranchia Suborder : Euctenidiacea Superfamily : Doridoidea Family : Chromodorididae Distribution : Indo-West Pacific. Maximal size : 50 mm Abundance : Seldom if ever on the reef flat zone and on the fore reef zone Species characteristics : Considerable variation in mantle color from red to yellow. There is a pattern of white spots and rings and a pale blue border with submarginal bands of dark blue-black and then yellow. The underside of the mantle and all the body and foot are bright yellow
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Maurice Jay Reunion, "Lagon de Grand Fond" at Saint Gilles

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
          - Chromodoris albopunctata, (Garett, 1879)
          - Chromodoris sykesi, Eliot, 1904

Bibliographic data :

There is some marginal color variation. In most of the specimens, the margin is light, bright blue or purplish-blue at the very edge, with submarginal bands of dark blue-black and then yellow. In one Hawaiian specimen ( see Bill Rudman Seaslug site), the outer margin is dark blue while the submarginal bands are light blue and yellow.

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Chromodoris albopunctata

Publications :

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
    Garrett, A. (1879). Description of a new species of Goniobranchus. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, (1879): 31.
    Rudman, W. B. (1987). The Chromodorididae (Ophistobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris epicura, C. aureopurpurea, C. annulata, C. coi and Risbecia tryoni colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 90(3): 305-407

Other photos of Goniobranchus albopunctatus :

Emmanuel Eby Longini harbourg, at Mayotte, 16 May 2007

The underside of the mantle and all the body and foot are bright yellow Gill detail

Monika Bachel Reunion, Cap la Houssaye, Saint Paul, 8 m, 28 March 2009, size : 12 mm In this juvenile the underside of the mantle and all the body and foot are bright yellow The yellow sub-marginal band is very large in this small specimen

Monika Bachel Reunion, Route en corniche, La Possession, 5m, 6 June 2009, size 8-10 mm   In this small juvenile specimen nearly all the mantle is yellow. The pattern of white spots and rings on red backgroung began to appear on the central area...

Alain-Benoît Rassat Madagascar, Plateau des arches, Nosy bé, 27 m, September 2012, size : 35 mm Along with a superb shrimp ...

Reunion, Goniobranchus albopunctatus, when an adult meet a juvenile, at Saint Denis, by Sully Bachel

Madagascar, Goniobranchus albopunctatus, at Antongil, by Olivier Fournajoux

Seychelles, Goniobranchus albopunctatus, at Mahé, by Christophe Mason-Parker  

Reunion, Goniobranchus albopunctatus, at Saint Paul, by Cédric Péneau

Mauritius, Goniobranchus albopunctatus, at Riviere Noire, by Pierre Périès