''Goniobranchus hunterae'' is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of colourful

sea slug Sea slug is a common name for some Marine biology, marine invertebrates with varying levels of resemblance to terrestrial Slug, slugs. Most creatures known as sea slugs are gastropods, i.e. they are Sea snail, sea snails (marine gastropod moll ...

, a dorid

nudibranch Nudibranchs () are a group of soft-bodied marine gastropod molluscs, belonging to the order Nudibranchia, that shed their shells after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms, and they have b ...

, a marine

gastropod Gastropods (), commonly known as slugs and snails, belong to a large Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, freshwater, and fro ...

mollusc Mollusca is a phylum of protostome, protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 76,000 extant taxon, extant species of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum ...

in the family

Chromodorididae Chromodorididae, or chromodorids, are a taxonomic family of colourful sea slugs; dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Doridoidea. “Chromodorid nudibranchs are among the most gorgeously coloured of all animals.� ...

.Bouchet, P. (2012)
''Goniobranchus hunterae''.
Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-05-05

Description

''Goniobranchus hunterae'' is a chromodorid nudibranch which has a translucent white mantle with scattered red spots. The edge of the mantle is yellow with opaque white glands showing through the skin just inside this region. The

rhinophore A rhinophore is one of a pair of Chemoreceptor, chemosensory club-shaped, rod-shaped or ear-like structures which are the most prominent part of the external head anatomy in sea slugs, Marine (ocean), marine gastropod opisthobranch mollusks suc ...

clubs are translucent with white pigment towards the tip. The gills have opaque white lines on the outer

rachis In biology, a rachis (from the [], "backbone, spine") is a main axis or "shaft". In zoology and microbiology In vertebrates, ''rachis'' can refer to the series of articulated vertebrae, which encase the spinal cord. In this case the ''rachi ...

and translucent white leaves. The body reaches a length of 25 mm. Compare with ''

Goniobranchus daphne ''Goniobranchus daphne'' is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.Bouchet, P. (2012)''Goniobranchus daphne''.Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-05-02 ...

'', ''

Goniobranchus splendidus ''Goniobranchus splendidus'' is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.Bouchet, P. (2012)''Goniobranchus splendidus''.Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 20 ...

'' and '' Goniobranchus tasmaniensis'' which all have similar coloration.

Distribution

This species was described from La Perouse,

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

, Australia. It is one of a group of similar red-spotted chromodorids from south-eastern Australia which form a mimicry ring.Rudman W.B. (1983) ''The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: ''Chromodoris splendida'', ''C. aspersa'' and ''Hypselodoris placida'' colour groups.'' Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 78: 105-173. page(s): 114

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5581889 Chromodorididae Gastropods described in 1983