Leopard Nudibranch

Goniobranchus leopardus is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

Description

Chromodoris leopardus can reach a maximum size of 6 cm length. The body is elongate with a foot which is distinct from the upper body by a large skirt like mantle hiding the foot. The top of the mantle is brownish with dark spots circled with white. The margin of the mantle is white with at the external border a fine purple to electric blue line. The rhinophores are lamellate and contractile, the base is white topped with blue to purple but they can also be white with a longitudinal blue to purple line. The branched gills have a whitish external side, the internal surface is golden orange.

Distribution

This species has been reported from NW Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands.

Habitat

It likes waters that are between 21 and 26 degrees Celsius and is often found between 5 and 40 meter. It feeds on hydroids, coral, sponges and anemone.