Goniobranchus alderi is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.[2][3]

Goniobranchus alderi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Doridina
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Goniobranchus
Species:
G. alderi
Binomial name
Goniobranchus alderi
(Collingwood, 1881)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Chromodoris alderi Collingwood, 1881
  • Glossodoris (Chromodoris) alderi (Collingwood, 1881)

Distribution

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This marine species was described from Keelung, Taiwan.[1] It is also found in Japan.[4]

Description

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Goniobranchus alderi has a pattern of red lines forming a loose reticulate network on the mantle. There is a series of deep red spots towards the margin and a yellow marginal line. The gills are white with red lines and the rhinophores have red clubs with small white spots. An animal from Sagami Bay, Japan identified as Chromodoris tinctoria is a good match for the original illustration.[4]

Similar species

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This species has been confused with Goniobranchus tinctorius. A 2020 study has shown that there are probably five species without names in this complex, with Goniobranchus sp. 2 being most similar to G. alderi.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Collingwood, C. 1881. On some new species of nudibranchiate Mollusca from the eastern seas. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology, series 2, 2(2):123-140, pls. 9-10.
  2. ^ a b Bouchet, P. (2015). Goniobranchus alderi (Collingwood, 1881). In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-11-14
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b Nishina, M., 2001 (Aug 2) Chromodoris tinctoria from Sagami Bay, Japan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  5. ^ 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). doi:10.1007/s12526-020-01048-w.