Goniobranchus verrieri (Crosse, 1875)

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This species has been observed on Reunion and Madagascar Islands


Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Euctenidiacea
Superfamily : Doridoidea
Family : Chromodorididae
Distribution : Indo-West Pacific.
Maximal size : 30 mm
Abundance : Seldom on the rocky coast and on the fore reef zone


Species characteristics :

This sea slug has a white mantle with areas of transparency, an outer deep red and an inner yellow/orange border.
    The rhinophores stalks are transparent, and the clubs are translucent red with a white edging to the lamellae.
   The simple gills, arranged in a circle around the anus, are translucent edged in white (sometimes with a reddish tinge).

a sea slug
Showing species characteristics...

Photo Sully Bachel
Reunion, Sainte Suzanne, 6 m, 9 November 2009, size : 25 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

  Synonymous (according worms) :
          - Chromodoris marginata, (Pease, 1860)
          - Chromodoris verrieri, (Crosse, 1875)
          - Doris marginata, Pease, 1860
          - Glossodoris marginata, (Pease, 1860)
          - Glossodoris verrieri, (Crosse, 1875)
          - Goniodoris verrieri, Crosse, 1875

Bibliographic data :

The inner yellow orange band may be broken up into patches
    The approximately 10 gills are held in a cup shape as in Hallaxa or Thorunna
    The dorsum is pustulose and irregular. In some specimen, It is creamy with opaque speckling and small patches of yellow orange
    It appears that no red is present in the rhinophores of Hawaiian specimens.
    The mantle of this sea slug is elongately oval with a broad mantle overlap, the foot extending behind the mantle when the animal is crawling.
    The underside of the mantle is white except for the red and yellow border of the mantle showing through. The foot is also white.
    These species have similarity with Goniobranchus albonares and Thorunna horologia but :
               - In Thorunna horologia, the marginal line thickens midway down the body. And an additional purple/bluish margin line is present around the edge of the foot
               - In Goniobranchus albonares the rhinophores and gills are white.

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Chromodoris verrieri
   Nudipixel Chromodoris verrieri

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
    Rudman, W.B. (1985) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris aureomarginata, C. verrieri and C. fidelis colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 83 : 241-299.

Other photos of Goniobranchus verrieri :


Maurice Jay

Reunion, Saint Paul

The rhinophores stalks are transparent, and the clubs are translucent red with a white edging to the lamellae.


sea slug

Alain Barrère

Reunion, "Cap la houssaye", Saint Paul,

14 February 2006, size 7-10 mm.

Specimen with a light coloration on the rhinophore club.

A juvénile form ...


 More photos from Indian Ocean

 Reunion, Goniobranchus verrieri with a very thin red border, at Etang salé, by Christophe Cadet

Madagascar, Goniobranchus verrieri, at Nosy Bé, by Alain-Benoît Rassat