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Content Summary | Identification Resources
The typical characteristic of Gymnodorididae nudibranch is that they cannot retract their gills into a pocket under the mantle (Marshall & Willan 1999). Also, they have non-retractile rhinophores (Debelius & Kuiter 2007).
As this species named "yellow-daubed Gymnodoris", it has many large creamy yellow pustula on its yellowish brown to reddish body (Debelius & Kuiter 2007). The body is very soft, lacking a notal ridge and the mantle skirt is completely lost (Marhsall & Willan 1999; Debelius & Kuiter 2007). It has large 7 or 8 gills which are arranged in circle around anus on the back (Willan & Coleman 1984).
Different species of Gymnodoris (G. aurita) has similar characteristics to yellow-daubed Gymnodoris but G. aurita has fewer pustula and is only found in Great Barrier Reef while yellow-daubed Gymnodoris is apparently endemic to Heron Island and Lizard Island (Marshall & Willan 1999).
Also, yellow-daubed Gymnodoris is very similar to Nembrotha species but Nembrotha has black body with green or reddish pustula so they can be distinguished easily by colour (Debelius & Kuiter 2007). In addition, species of Nembrotha have retractile rihnophores which is main differences between family Gymnodorididae and Nembrotha (Debelius & Kuiter 2007). |
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