Faithful sea slug
Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
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. fidelis
Binomial name
Goniobranchus fidelis
(Kelaart, 1858)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Chromodoris fidelis (Kelaart, 1858)
  • Chromodoris flammulata Bergh, 1905
  • Chromodoris krishna Rudman, 1973
  • Chromodoris lactea Bergh, 1905
  • Doris fidelis Kelaart, 1858 (basionym)
  • Glossodoris fidelis (Kelaart, 1858)

Goniobranchus fidelis, also commonly known as the faithful sea slug, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.[2][3][4]

Goniobranchus fidelis. Posterior to the right.

Description

Goniobranchus fidelis can reach more than 25 mm (0.98 in) in length.[5] The foot of the animal is cream in color; it is elongate and is almost covered by the edges of the wide mantle. The more central part of the mantle has a creamy-white area with scalloped edges, whereas the entire wide margin of the mantle is orange or red. Where the two differently coloured areas meet, there is a burgundy-colored border which varies in width from one animal to the other. [6] The rhinophores are laminated, contractile and greyish in color with lighter colour at the tip. The shade of grey varies from one individual to another. The gills are the same colour as the rhinophores and they are retractable.[7][8]

Distribution and habitat

This species was described from Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean. The distribution of Goniobranchus fidelis includes the tropical Indo-West Pacific and Red Sea.[5][9] Its habitat is the external reef area as well on the top or on the slope up to 20 m (66 ft) deep with a preference for dead corals.[10]

Biology

This sea slug is benthic and diurnal, moves without any fear of being taken for a prey, because of the presence of defensive glands distributed in its body tissues and shown to the potential predators through its warning coloration.

References

  1. ↑ Kelaart, Edward Frederick. 1858. Descriptions of new and little known species of Ceylon nudibranchiate molluscs and zoophytes. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Ceylon Branch, Colombo 3(1):76-139, 2 pls. page 97.
  2. 1 2 Bouchet, P. (2012). Goniobranchus fidelis. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-05-02
  3. ↑ 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. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1985.tb00875.x
  4. ↑ 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
  5. 1 2 Rudman, W.B., 1999 (June 1) Chromodoris fidelis (Kelaart, 1858). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  6. ↑ Mitel Cédric, Corolla Jean-Pierre, Warren Lindsay, Leon Virginie, (2015) Goniobranchus fidelis (Kelaart, 1858). in : DORIS, 8/2/2015
  7. ↑ Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. ISBN 978-3-939767-06-0 page(s): 150
  8. ↑ Gosliner, T.M., Behrens, D.W. & Valdés, Á. (2008) Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs and seaslugs. A field guide to the world's most diverse fauna. Sea Challengers Natural History Books, Washington, 426 pp. page(s): 217
  9. ↑ 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
  10. ↑ Bidgrain, P. (2105) Chromodoris fidelis (Kelaart, 1858) South-west Indian Ocean Seaslug site


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