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

Factsheet

Goniodoris cf. castanea

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