This species has been observed on Mayotte Island
Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Euctenidiacea
Superfamily : Polyceroidea
Family : Gymnodorididae
Distribution : Indo West Pacific
Maximal size : 20 mm
Abundance : Seldom if ever on the fore reef zone
Species characteristics :
The animals are uniformly translucent white in color and covered in small, rounded tubercles
The rhinophores are lamellate and range in color from translucent white to cream or pale yellow.
The gill branches are the same color as the body of the animal and consist of approximately 9–13 main branches arranged in a complete circle with the anus located at the center. |
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Showing species characteristics... |
Photo Pierre Riboulon
Mayotte, Patate de Bouzi, 8 m, 3 December 2014, size : 15 mm
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See more about : Sightening and mating periods
Remarks :
Identification confirmed by
Vanessa Knutson
Synonymous : (according Worms)
- No other name
Bibliographic data :
The internal organs can be seen through the translucent skin. The color of the digestive gland varies and has been observed as bright orange to pink to brown, perhaps due to the diet of the animal.
The rhinophores are lamellate with between 8 and 13 lamellae and range in color from translucent white to cream or pale yellow.
The gill branches are the same color as the body of the animal and consist of approximately 9–13 main branches arranged in a complete circle with the anus located at the center. They are located close to the center of the length of the animal in the posterior half of the body
The genital opening is located on the right side of the animal approximately one third of the length of the distance between the back of the rhinophores to the gills
The specimens examined have spicules embedded in the skin. The spicules can be seen through the skin in some of the photos
This species appears to be active at night, but is often found on the undersurface of coral rubble during the day
Etymology :
This species is named for the tubercles covering its body
Gymnodoris tuberculosa differs from other described species of Gymnodoris by its general translucent white color, and the presence of translucent white tubercles. The other species of Gymnodoris that possess prominent tubercles have tubercles that are pigmented, often from yellow to orange to red in color such as Gymnodoris aurita (Gould, 1852), or Gymnodoris ceylonica (Kelaart, 1858).
References :
Okinawa Slug site by R. Bolland : Gymnodoris tuberculosa
Philippines sea slugs by E. Koehler : Gymnodoris tuberculosa
Publications :
Knutson, Vanessa L. and Terrence M. Gosliner, 2014. Three New Species of Gymnodoris Stimpson, 1855 (Opisthobranchia, Nudibranchia) from the Philippines. Williams, Gary C., and Terrence M. Gosliner, eds. 2014. The Coral Triangle: The 2011 Hearst Philippine Biodiversity Expedition. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California 94118, USA. Published 15 April 2014
Other photos of Gymnodoris tuberculosa :
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