Goniobranchus geometricus
Species of gastropod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Goniobranchus geometricus is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.[2][3]
| Goniobranchus geometricus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Goniobranchus geometricus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Family: | Chromodorididae |
| Genus: | Goniobranchus |
| Species: | G. geometricus |
| Binomial name | |
| Goniobranchus geometricus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Distribution
This species was described from New Caledonia. It is found throughout the Indian Ocean as well as the Western Pacific Ocean from the intertidal down to 30 m (98 ft).[4][5]
Description
Goniobranchus geometricus is a small nudibranch which may grow to a total length of 35mm. It is variably coloured, with the ground colour ranging from a creamy brown to purple, The mantle has numerous cream-coloured bumps and has a white margin. The gills and rhinophores are white to greenish.[5] It is very similar to Goniobranchus conchyliatus but has green-grey rhinophores and gills whilst G. conchyliatus has red ones.[4][6][7]
Ecology
This animal feeds on the sponge Chelonaplysilla violacea.[8]