Gymnodoris cf. alba (Bergh, 1877)

Mehrotra, Rahul, A. Caballer Gutierrez, Manuel, M. Scott, Chad, Arnold, Spencer, Monchanin, Coline, Viyakarn, Voranop & Chavanich, Suchana, 2021, An updated inventory of sea slugs from Koh Tao, Thailand, with notes on their ecology and a dramatic biodiversity increase for Thai waters, ZooKeys 1042, pp. 73-188 : 73

Gymnodoris cf. alba (Bergh, 1877) Figure 15F

Material examined.

One specimen 25 mm, SI.

Ecology.

Among coral and rubble in coral reef habitats. Depth 4-18 m.

Distribution.

Gymnodoris alba is currently believed to be found across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea ( Yonow 2008), Australia ( Nimbs and Smith 2016), South Africa, the Philippines, Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Hawaii ( Gosliner et al. 2008). Gymnodoris alba is also known from both Andaman and Gulf waters of Thailand ( Chavanich et al. 2013).

Remarks.

Similar to Gymnodoris alba (Bergh, 1877) but more observations and material are needed to confidently ascertain an identification. A clarification of the G. alba species complex and indeed a revision of the genus is sorely needed to provide a biogeographical and taxonomic understanding of Gymnodoris in the Indo-Pacific. This species was first recorded as Gymnodoris sp. by Mehrotra and Scott (2016: fig. 2E) and is distinct from specimens of G. alba as recorded in both Andaman and Gulf waters by Chavanich et al. (2013).

Figures

Figure 15. A Phyllidia picta specimens 28 mm B Phyllidia varicosa 55 mm (photograph by Pau Urgell Plaza) C Phyllidiella nigra 50 mm D Phyllidiella cf. pustulosa 35 mm E Phyllidiopsis loricata 28 mm F Gymnodoris cf. alba 25 mm (photograph by Tine Kvamme) G Gymnodoris ceylonica 35 mm H Gymnodoris impudica 60 mm I Gymnodoris inornata 28 mm (photograph by Pau Urgell Plaza) J Gymnodoris sp. 1 25 mm (photograph by Pim Bontenbal) K, L Gymnodoris sp. 2 14 mm, same specimen feeding on Dendrodoris elongata.