Glossodoris buko
White mantle glossodoris
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
- Size
- 10–20 mm · max 40 mm
- Native range
- Western Pacific: Philippines, Papua New Guinea (type locality Bilbil Island, Madang) and Australia.
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Description
A small, mostly white chromodorid described in 2018 by Matsuda & Gosliner. The name comes from the Tagalog word for young coconut, referring to its creamy colour. It is externally very similar to Glossodoris pallida and was separated mainly on internal anatomy and DNA.
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/species/glossodoris-buko-phillipines-indo-pacific-south-china-sea/
Identification
Elongate translucent white body with an opaque white band along the mantle edge and another along the foot, bordered by a fine yellow line at the mantle margin. Rhinophores and gill branches are white with yellow tips. The mantle edge has semi-permanent undulations, typically a prominent pair of folds at mid-body.
Similar species
Glossodoris pallida is practically identical in the field; G. buko differs internally (a dense white glandular sheath around the oral tube, radula). White Goniobranchus/Chromodoris with yellow edges lack the opaque white foot band.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Tropical reefs; recorded around 15 m.
Food
Like other Glossodoris, feeds on sponges.