Goniobranchus heatherae


Goniobranchus heatherae, the red-spotted nudibranch, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

Distribution

This species has so far only been found around the marine heterobranch gastropods of [South">marine (ocean)">marine heterobranch gastropods of [South Africa|southern African] coast from the Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth, subtidally to 30 m. It is probably endemic.

Description

The red-spotted nudibranch is a white-bodied dorid with a smooth skin and with variably distributed red spots and an opaque white band around the notum. There may also be a yellowish line around the edge of the notum, which is more common in specimens seen towards the eastern part of the distribution. It has eight gills arranged around the anus and its rhinophores are perfoliate. It may reach a total length of 50 mm.

Ecology

This species feeds on sponges.