Goniodoris cf. castanea from Hong Kong

February 7, 2002
From: Bill Rudman & Brian Darvell

Here is some information and photos on Goniodoris cf. castanea from Brian Darvell's Hong Kong collections.

This mottled brown species shows few differences in colour or internal anatomy to typical specimens from Britain. It is most unlikely that the presence of a European species in Hong Kong is a natural occurrence. This species is either a new species, yet to be distinguished from G. castanea, or it is a population of the European G. castanea which has been transported to Hong Kong by artificial means. As species of Goniodoris feed on colonial ascidians, a common group of fouling organisms, it is possible that specimens of this species, if it is G. castanea, travelled to Hong Kong on the bottom of a boat. These specimens were found on a similarly coloured colony of compound ascidians. They are 15 mm long preserved and specimens from Japan (Abe 1964) are recorded to grow to 30 mm.

PHOTO:
AM C 150334, 18 specimens, 9 April 1986, Site 4.134, Cha Am Pai, Mirs Bay, 10 m, Hong Kong. Lower Photo is of ascidian food. PHOTOS: Brian Darvell.

Hong Kong Collection Records:
AM C 150334, 18 specimens, 9 April 1986, Site 4.134, Cha Am Pai, Mirs Bay, 10 m.

Reference:
• 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

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman & Brian Darvell

Rudman, W.B. & Darvell, B.W., 2002 (Feb 7) Goniodoris cf. castanea from Hong Kong. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6002

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