Goniobranchus epicurius

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

Goniobranchus epicurius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Goniobranchus
Species:
G. epicurius
Binomial name
Goniobranchus epicurius
(Basedow & Hedley, 1905)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Chromodoris epicuria (Basedow & Hedley, 1905)
  • Chromodoris victoriae (Burn, 1957)
  • Glossodoris victoriae Burn, 1957
  • Hypselodoris epicuria Basedow & Hedley, 1905 (basionym)

Distribution

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This species is known to range from South Australia to Victoria and Tasmania.[4][5]

Description

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Goniobranchus epicurius is a chromodorid nudibranch with a translucent white mantle. The edge of the mantle is opaque white with orange spots. There are thin opaque white longitudinal lines and small orange spots on the mantle. The rhinophores and gills are translucent, edged with opaque white pigment. Specimens with a heavy dusting of red pigment and no white lines on the mantle match the original description.[6][4][7][8]

References

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  1. ^ Basedow, Herbert, & Charles Hedley. 1905. South Australian nudibranchs, and an enumeration of the known Australian species. Transactions, Proceedings & Reports of the Royal Philosophical Society of South Australia 29:134-160, pls. 1-12.
  2. ^ a b Bouchet, P. (2012). Goniobranchus epicurius. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-05-02
  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 Rudman, W.B., 1999 (October 11) Chromodoris epicuria (Basedow & Hedley, 1905). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  5. ^ Burn R. (2006) A checklist and bibliography of the Opisthobranchia (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of Victoria and the Bass Strait area, south-eastern Australia. Museum Victoria Science Reports 10:1–42
  6. ^ Rudman W.B. (1987) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris epicuria, C. aureopurpurea, C. annulata, C. coi and Risbecia tryoni colour groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 90: 305-407. page(s): 358
  7. ^ Rudman W.B. & Darvell B.W. (1990) Opisthobranch molluscs of Hong Kong: Part 1. Goniodorididae, Onchidorididae, Triophidae, Gymnodorididae, Chromodorididae (Nudibranchia). Asian Marine Biology 7: 31-79. page(s): 58
  8. ^ Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. ISBN 978-3-939767-06-0 page(s): 150