Goniodoris cf. castanea
Alder & Hancock, 1845

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Goniodorididae

Goniodoris castanea is known from the Atlantic coast of nthn Europe. There are a number of possible records of this species from ports worldwide, the suggestion being that it is transported on the bottom of shipping. Further anatomical studies are needed to sort out this puzzle. I have attached photos of animals from outside the Atlantic which look like G. castanea.

See also Goniodoris meracula.

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.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (February 20) Goniodoris cf. castanea Alder & Hancock, 1845. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/gonicfcast

Related messages


Goniodoris? from Oman

December 21, 2006
From: Jasper Lansink

Hello Bill,

Here are  two pictures which were taken during a night dive and show two red/brownish slugs with unclear features.

Locality: Muscat - Bandar Khairan, 11 meters, Oman, Gulf of Oman, 18 and 21 september 2006, Coral, Sea, No currents. Length: 5 and 3 cm. Photographer: Jasper Lansink.

Can you help me in determining the species?

Thanks very much!!!
Jasper

jasper@aquadonna.nl

Lansink, J.A.G., 2006 (Dec 21) Goniodoris? from Oman. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18986

Dear Jasper,
I am afraid the 'unclear features' are the operative words. I have puzzled over these photos and I keep coming back to it being a species of Goniodoris - probably the species I am calling Goniodoris cf, castanea. However, I am rather hesitant because I can't really see enough to be sure.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Dec 21). Comment on Goniodoris? from Oman by Jasper Lansink. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18986

Goniodoris from New Zealand

February 21, 2002
From: Gareth Jones

Hi again Dr. Rudman,
Here is another one that has got us scratching our heads. size 20mm depth 5M. Poor Knights Islands.

Regards
Gareth Jones
Pacific Hideaway, NZ

rees@divenz.co.nz

Jones, G., 2002 (Feb 21) Goniodoris from New Zealand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6313

Dear Gareth,
Another interesting find. It is a species of Goniodoris, a genus which feeds on colonial ascidians. There are two very old records of Goniodoris from the South Island of New Zealand. One of the European species G. castanea from Otago (Suter, 1913), and G. punctata from Akaroa Harbour (Bergh, 1905). I know of no other published records. It is possible your animal is G. castanea as there are suggestions it could be transported on the bottom of ships. It is possibly G. meracula, which is presently known only from southeastern Australia. I think this is another group which needs to be revised worldwide before we can say much more about their identity.

Even though we can't give it a name it is good to know that it has been found again in New Zealand.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Feb 21). Comment on Goniodoris from New Zealand by Gareth Jones. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6313

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