Glossodoris dendrobranchia
Rudman, 1990

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Chromodorididae

DISTRIBUTION

Known only from Great Barrier Reef.

PHOTO

Horseshoe Reef, Swain Reefs, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, July 1986, 101 mm long alive, Holotype. PHOTO: Bill Rudman.

RELATED TOPIC

Glossodoris sp. A.

Known only from a couple of specimens, this species is one of the 'G. atromarginata group' of species with a high, very rigid muscular body, with a narrow radular ribbon. It is characterised by its brown body and whitish mantle border, and branched gills which give it its name. See also the similarly coloured Glossodoris cf. atromarginata.

References:
• Rudman, W.B. (1986a) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West
Pacific: The genus Glossodoris Ehrenberg (= Casella, H. & A. Adams). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 86(2): 101-184.
• Rudman, W.B. (1990b) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: further species of Glossodoris, Thorunna and the Chromodoris aureomarginata colour group. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 100(3): 263-326.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (July 18) Glossodoris dendrobranchia Rudman, 1990. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/glosdend

Related messages


Glossodoris dendrobranchia in sthn Queensland

March 5, 2004
From: Gary Cobb

Hi Bill,
My dive buddy Dave Mullins and I went searching for new species off Noosa at the north end of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. We did 3 dives and found some very interesting subjects! This one appears to be Glossodoris dendrobranchia.

Depth: 18m
Site: Caves
Water temp: 24C
Length: 100mm

Is my guess correct? Is this species only found at the Great Barrier Reef as you said in the Forum? Is this a one off find? Caves is a great dive site just north of Noosa.
Cheers,
Gary

gary@cobb.com.au

Cobb, G., 2004 (Mar 5) Glossodoris dendrobranchia in sthn Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12235

Thanks Gary,
You are certainly finding some interesting things at this site. This is almost certainly Glossodoris dendrobranchia from its colour. The other external distinguishing feature is the presence of some branched gills, which gives the species its name but they can't be seen in this photos as the gills are quite contracted. The only records we have of this species is from the Great Barrier Reef, but our knowledge of many of these species is fairly poor so we can't really say just how widespread this species is. Little bits of information, like your photo, all help
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Mar 5). Comment on Glossodoris dendrobranchia in sthn Queensland by Gary Cobb. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12235

Glossodoris dendrobranchia

July 18, 1999
From: Bill Rudman

I have prepared a page on Glossodoris dendrobranchia for comparison with the Glossodoris in Jim Cruise's message.

Bill Rudman.