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Goniobranchus geometricus (Risbec, 1928)
Maximum size: about 15 mm.
Identification:
This
species
has a grayish-pink body broadly reticulated with dark violet and
decorated with white-tipped tubercles. The rhinophore clubs are
yellow-green. The branchia are usually, though not always, tipped with
yellow-green.
Natural history:
Goniobranchus geometricus
is known from one animal found crawling in the open, by day, at about 11
m (35 ft) at an exposed site. It mimics pink/gray phyllidiids and
may rhythmically raise and lower the anterior edge of its mantle while
crawling. (Note 1)
Distribution: Maui: widely
distributed in the Indo-Pacific.
Taxonomic notes: This species was first found in Hawaii at Pu‘u ola‘i, Makena, Maui by Jon Goldberger on Sept. 3, 2023.
Photo: Daniel Moth: about 15
mm; right rhinophore and branchia regenerating: found by Jon Goldberger; Pu‘u ola‘i, Makena, Maui; Sept. 3, 2023.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: Presumably, the mimicry allows it to benefit from the "predator training" generated by the
toxic/distasteful phyllidiids.
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