Gnathia variobranchia Holdich and Harrison, 1980

Gnathia variobranchia Holdich & Harrison 1980: 231, figs 7a–h. — Poore & Lew Ton, 2002: 190. — Svavarsson & Bruce, 2012: 26.

Material examined. ♂ (1.9 mm), Heron Island reef, north eastern side, 23°25.990’S, 151°55.601’E, 22 November 2009, dead and loose Acropora, 12 m, CReefs stn HI09-076A, coll. N.L. Bruce and K. Schnabel (MTQ W34083). ♂ (2.0 mm), Wistari Reef, northern side, 23°27.257’S, 151°52.840’E, 23 November 2009, small rubble under large coral slabs, 2.5 m, CReefs stn HI09-084E, coll. N.L. Bruce and K. Schnabel (MTQ W43137). ♂ (1.7 mm), Heron Island, “Harry´s Canyon”, 23°28.389’S, 151°57.835’E, 18 November 2009, reef slope, coral rubble, on silt, 11 m, CReefs stn HI09-045A, coll. N.L. Bruce & K. Schnabel (MTQ W31662). ♂ (1.9 mm), Lamont Shoal, northern side, 23°35.671’S, 152°03.855’E, 19 November 2009, Acropora rubble, base of life Acropora bank near crest, CReefs stn HI09-59C, coll. K. Schnabel and N.L. Bruce (MTQ W31665). ♂ (1.8 mm), Heron Island, Heron–Wistari channel, 23°27.248’S, 151°55.005’E, 25 November 2009, small rubble, 29–30 m, CReefs stn HI09-106B, coll. K. Schnabel and S. Smith (MTQ W31667). ♂ (1.6 mm), Heron Island, “The Patches”, 23°26.469’S, 151°53.697’E, 28 November 2009, 16– 18 m, generally silty samples, CReefs stn HI09-123E, coll. K. Schnabel & CReefs party (MTQ W34135),

Remarks. This species was originally described from the Heron Island (Holdich & Harrison 1980. Svavarsson & Bruce (2012) reported the species from several sites around Lizard Island.

Distribution. Northern and southern Great Barrier Reef: at depths of 1 to 30 m.