Goniobranchus vibratus

Goniobranchus vibratus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Goniobranchus
Species: G. vibratus
Binomial name
Goniobranchus vibratus
(Pease, 1860) [1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Chromodoris vibrata (Pease, 1860)
  • Doris propinquata Pease, 1860
  • Doris vibrata Pease, 1860 (basionym)

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

Etymology

The Latin species name vibratus derives from its habit to vibrate rhythmically the gills much like some species of Thorunna and Noumea.[4]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off Hawaii, in the Marshall Islands, in French Polynesia and in Japan, in the tropical Pacific Ocean.[4][5]

Habitat

These diurnal nudibranches can be found exposed on subtidal reefs, rocky habitats and in tide pools or low intertidal, at depths of 1 to 24 m.[5]

Description

Goniobranchus vibratus from Rangiroa (French Polynesia)

The length of the body reaches 60–65 mm.[5] The basic body color of these nudibranches is bright yellow, with small white dots in relief. The margins of the mantle are bluish-purple, with large white pustules. The outline of the body is oblong or oval. Mantle is smooth and rounded. The thin margins do not conceal the foot behind. The seven brachial plumes are small, erect, ciliated and edged with violet. Dorsal tentacles are violet, short, ovate and lamellated. Foot is white and almost wide as the mantle.[1][5]

Biology

Goniobranchus vibratus feeds on encrusting sponge (Porifera, Phoriospongia poni or probably Chelonaplysilla violacea).[6] It lays a mass of eggs 2-3 whorls. Hatching occurs in about 7 days.[5]

Bibliography

  • Rudman W.B. (1984) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: a review of the genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 81 (2/3): 115-273. page(s): 130
  • Rudman W.B. (1986) The Chromodorididae (Ophistobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: the genus Glossodoris Ehrenbergh (= Casella, H. & A; Adams). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 86: 101-184. page(s): 166
  • Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. ISBN 978-3-939767-06-0 page(s): 165
  • 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): 214
  • 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

References

  1. 1 2 Pease, William Harper. 1860. Descriptions of new species of Mollusca from the Sandwich Islands. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, pt. 28, pp. 18-36.
  2. 1 2 Bouchet, P. (2012). Goniobranchus vibratus. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-05-08
  3. ↑ Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (Ed.); Frýda J., Hausdorf B., Ponder W., Valdes A. & Warén A. 2005. Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia: International Journal of Malacology, 47(1-2). ConchBooks: Hackenheim, Germany. ISBN 3-925919-72-4. ISSN 0076-2997. 397 pp.
  4. 1 2 Sea Slug Forum
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Sea Slugs of Hawaii
  6. ↑ Gary R. McDonald, James W. Nybakken, A List of the Worldwide Food Habits of Nudibranchs University of California Santa Cruz.
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