Goniobranchus kuniei

Goniobranchus kuniei anc Chromodoris cf. ransoni
Goniobranchus kuniei anc Chromodoris cf. ransoni
Goniobranchus kuniei anc Chromodoris cf. ransoni
Goniobranchus kuniei anc Chromodoris cf. ransoni

Taille : 3 cm

Profondeur : 20 m

Site : Fausse passe de Paea (jour)

Autres sites : Commun dans les lagons et sur le versant océanique des récifs en pente douce.

 

Détail des branchies du nudibranche Goniobranchus kuniei

Goniobranchus kuniei anc Chromodoris cf. ransoni
Goniobranchus kuniei anc Chromodoris cf. ransoni
Goniobranchus kuniei pattern classique et non dominant en Polynésie
Goniobranchus kuniei pattern classique et non dominant en Polynésie

Observations par Cory Pittman : So, the width of the

marginal band is the key trait and I'm now leaning toward calling all

the French Polynesian animals kuniei regardless of whether or not the

spots are ocellate. 

The major difference between the western Pacific and French Polynesia is

a change in the frequency of ocellation in the population of kuniei. In

the western Pacific, the non-ocellate variant is dominant. In French

Polynesia, the ocellate variant is dominant.