Gymnodoris alba
(Bergh, 1877)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Gymnodorididae
DISTRIBUTION
It is widely distributed in the western Pacific with published records from China, Japan, Hawaii, Singapore and the Philippines. It is also found in northern Australia and has recently been reported from southern Africa (Gosliner 1987).
This species is white with orange spots and usually an orange border to the somewhat pointed head region of the mantle. The translucent white gills form a circle or semi-circle and usually have an orange line along the outer axis of the upper half of each gill. The translucent white rhinophore club is tipped with orange.
The posterior end of the foot is either tipped with orange or has an orange median line. It grows to about 15 mm and in Hawaii has been observed feeding on aeolid nudibranchs (Kay and Young 1969). One Hong Kong specimen was eaten by a second specimen (AM C138129).
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
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (July 5) Gymnodoris alba (Bergh, 1877). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/gymnalba
