Goniobranchus coi | |
---|---|
Goniobranchus coi | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Order: | Nudibranchia |
Suborder: | Doridina |
Superfamily: | Doridoidea |
Family: | Chromodorididae |
Genus: | Goniobranchus |
Species: | G. coi
|
Binomial name | |
Goniobranchus coi | |
Synonyms[2] | |
|
Goniobranchus coi is a species of very colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.[2][3]
This species was described from Vietnam. It occurs in the tropical Western Pacific Ocean from Australia to the Philippines[4] and rarely as far East as the Marshall Islands.[5]
Goniobranchus coi has a white body and foot, but is instantly recognizable by its distinct dorsal pattern. The outer part of the mantle is yellow, separated from the inner light-brown part by a wavy white and black line. The outer edge of the mantle is brown, with a thin purple line at the margin. The gills and rhinophores range in colour between different individuals from translucent white, through pale-yellow and light-brown. This species reaches at least 50 mm in length.[6][7][8]
Like most sea slugs in the superfamily Doridoidea, Goniobranchus coi feeds on sponges. It has been seen feeding on the sponge Chelonaplysilla violacea.[9][5]