Goniobranchus fidelis, also commonly known as the faithful sea slug, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.Bouchet, P. (2012). Goniobranchus fidelis. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-05-02Rudman W. B. (1985). "The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: Chromodoris aureomarginata, C. verrieri and C. fidelis colour groups". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 83: 241-299. Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012) Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33479
Description Goniobranchus fidelis can reach more than in length. The foot of the animal is cream in color; it is elongate and is almost covered by the edges of the wide mantle. The more central part of the mantle has a creamy-white area with scalloped edges, whereas the entire wide margin of the mantle is orange or red. Where the two differently coloured areas meet, there is a burgundy-colored border which varies in width from one animal to the other. Mitel Cédric, Corolla Jean-Pierre, Warren Lindsay, Leon Virginie, (2015) Goniobranchus fidelis (Kelaart, 1858). in : DORIS, 8/2/2015 The rhinophores are laminated, contractile and greyish in color with lighter colour at the tip. The shade of grey varies from one individual to another. The gills are the same colour as the rhinophores and they are retractable.Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. page(s): 150Gosliner, T.M., Behrens, D.W. & Valdés, Á. (2008) Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs and seaslugs. A field guide to the world's most diverse fauna. Sea Challengers Natural History Books, Washington, 426 pp. page(s): 217
Distribution and habitat This species was described from Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean. The distribution of Goniobranchus fidelis includes the tropical Indo-West Pacific and Red Sea.Rudman, W.B., 1999 (June 1) Chromodoris fidelis (Kelaart, 1858). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.Rudman W.B. & Darvell B.W. (1990) Opisthobranch molluscs of Hong Kong: Part 1. Goniodorididae, Onchidorididae, Triophidae, Gymnodorididae, Chromodorididae (Nudibranchia). Asian Marine Biology 7: 31-79. page(s): 58 Its habitat is the external reef area as well on the top or on the slope up to deep with a preference for dead corals.Bidgrain, P. (2105) Chromodoris fidelis (Kelaart, 1858) South-west Indian Ocean Seaslug site
Biology This sea slug is benthic and diurnal, moves without any fear of being taken for a prey, because of the presence of defensive glands distributed in its body tissues and shown to the potential predators through its warning coloration.
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