Goniodoris castanea
Alder & Hancock, 1845
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Goniodorididae
DISTRIBUTION
European coast of North Atlantic. Odd records from such places as the Suez Canal and New Zealand are probably either misidentifications or evidence of ship-borne distribution.
PHOTO
All photographs were taken in the Oosterschelde, the Netherlands, at various places in September 1999 and January 2000. UPPER RIGHT: On compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. LOWER LEFT: Laying egg-ribbon. LOWER RIGHT: egg-ribbon. Photos: Peter van Bragt.
The mottled brown and white colouration are usually an effective camouflage. Often found partially buried in a hollow which they excavate in the ascidian colony on which they are feeding. Normal foor ascidians are Botryllus schlosseri and Botrylloides leachi. Can grow to about 40mm long. See Peter van Bragt's message below for more photos, including one of animal on Botrylloides leachi.
Reference:
• Alder, J. & Hancock, A. (1845). Notice of a new genus and several new species of nudibranchiate Mollusca. Annals & Magazine of Natural History, 16: 311-316.
Rudman, W.B., 2000 (September 17) Goniodoris castanea Alder & Hancock, 1845. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/gonicast
Related messages
Goniodoris castanea f rom the Mediterranean
June 13, 2002
From: Jean-Pierre Bielecki
Hi Bill
Here is a picture of Goniodoris castanea found on the Mediterranean coast of France in May 2002
Size : 2cm
Depth : 7m
Dive site: Sète, étang de Thau.
Jean-Pierre Bielecki
bielecki.jeanpierre@free.fr
Thanks Jean-Pierre,
Bill Rudman
Goniodoris castanea from the Netherlands
September 19, 2000
From: Peter H. van Bragt
Hallo Bill
Please link these data and images to the records of the Netherlands.
Enclosed you will find some images of Goniodoris castanea and its spawn. All photographs were made in the Oosterschelde, the Netherlands, at various places in September 1999 and January 2000.T his nudi typically feeds here on Botryllus schlosseri (the purple/black colony forming tunicates, UPPER RIGHT).
In January 2000 we found a few colonies of Botrylloides leachi, which was then new to our tunicate fauna list. And to our suprise we also found a specimen of G. castanea feeding on these small red tunicates (LOWER RIGHT).
best regards
Peter H. van Bragt
vanbragt.phjm@hsbrabant.nl
Dear Peter,
Glad to get your message on Goniodoris castanea and the other species which I will add over the next few days. Once I have them all posted I will update the Netherlands page.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
