Geometric Goniobranchus

Reasoning recorded at review

• •The dorsum carries multiple rounded creamy-white to yellowish raised pustules rather than flat spots alone.
• •Dark brown to purple pigment forms connected reticulations between the pale pustules; the relative dark and pale coverage is variable.
• •The rhinophores and seven-to-eight-gill circlet are translucent and white-speckled basally with green to greenish-yellow distal pigment.
• •Where exposed, the lifted anterior mantle shows the supporting purple ventral crescent described for western-Pacific G. geometricus.
• •The sharp whole-animal view clearly resolves the variable cream pustules, dark brown-purple network, translucent white-speckled greenish appendages, and lifted purple anterior mantle.

Alternatives considered

• Goniobranchus conchyliatus

  Why plausible: The Indian Ocean counterpart shares a pale pustular body with darker pigment following the pustule contours.

  Comparison: G. conchyliatus should have red to reddish-orange rhinophores and gills; the visible appendages here are greenish-yellow, but specimen anatomy or molecular evidence would be required for formal confirmation.

• Goniobranchus hintuanensis

  Why plausible: Another white-pustular western-Pacific chromodorid with a grey-brown network.

  Comparison: G. hintuanensis should show reddish-brown pigment on rhinophore lamellae/midlines and gill edges plus paired diffuse dark fields, rather than the greenish distal appendage pattern visible here.

• Other white-pustular Goniobranchus / Glossodoris

  Why plausible: Yonow explicitly notes multiple pale pustular chromodorids that can be confused from incomplete photographs.

  Comparison: A conflicting appendage pattern, flat rather than raised pale markings, or absence of the inter-pustular network would require a broader specimen-backed comparison.

Reasoning recorded at review

• •The dorsum carries multiple rounded creamy-white to yellowish raised pustules rather than flat spots alone.
• •Dark brown to purple pigment forms connected reticulations between the pale pustules; the relative dark and pale coverage is variable.
• •The rhinophores and seven-to-eight-gill circlet are translucent and white-speckled basally with green to greenish-yellow distal pigment.
• •Where exposed, the lifted anterior mantle shows the supporting purple ventral crescent described for western-Pacific G. geometricus.
• •The clear side view resolves raised pale pustules, connected dark reticulation, white-speckled greenish appendages, and a purple anterior ventral crescent.

Alternatives considered

• Goniobranchus conchyliatus

  Why plausible: The Indian Ocean counterpart shares a pale pustular body with darker pigment following the pustule contours.

  Comparison: G. conchyliatus should have red to reddish-orange rhinophores and gills; the visible appendages here are greenish-yellow, but specimen anatomy or molecular evidence would be required for formal confirmation.

• Goniobranchus hintuanensis

  Why plausible: Another white-pustular western-Pacific chromodorid with a grey-brown network.

  Comparison: G. hintuanensis should show reddish-brown pigment on rhinophore lamellae/midlines and gill edges plus paired diffuse dark fields, rather than the greenish distal appendage pattern visible here.

• Other white-pustular Goniobranchus / Glossodoris

  Why plausible: Yonow explicitly notes multiple pale pustular chromodorids that can be confused from incomplete photographs.

  Comparison: A conflicting appendage pattern, flat rather than raised pale markings, or absence of the inter-pustular network would require a broader specimen-backed comparison.

Reasoning recorded at review

• •The dorsum carries multiple rounded creamy-white to yellowish raised pustules rather than flat spots alone.
• •Dark brown to purple pigment forms connected reticulations between the pale pustules; the relative dark and pale coverage is variable.
• •The rhinophores and seven-to-eight-gill circlet are translucent and white-speckled basally with green to greenish-yellow distal pigment.
• •Where exposed, the lifted anterior mantle shows the supporting purple ventral crescent described for western-Pacific G. geometricus.
• •Although partly obscured and softly focused, the frame exposes the pustular-reticulate dorsum, both greenish rhinophores, the greenish gill tips, and the lifted anterior mantle.

Alternatives considered

• Goniobranchus conchyliatus

  Why plausible: The Indian Ocean counterpart shares a pale pustular body with darker pigment following the pustule contours.

  Comparison: G. conchyliatus should have red to reddish-orange rhinophores and gills; the visible appendages here are greenish-yellow, but specimen anatomy or molecular evidence would be required for formal confirmation.

• Goniobranchus hintuanensis

  Why plausible: Another white-pustular western-Pacific chromodorid with a grey-brown network.

  Comparison: G. hintuanensis should show reddish-brown pigment on rhinophore lamellae/midlines and gill edges plus paired diffuse dark fields, rather than the greenish distal appendage pattern visible here.

• Other white-pustular Goniobranchus / Glossodoris

  Why plausible: Yonow explicitly notes multiple pale pustular chromodorids that can be confused from incomplete photographs.

  Comparison: A conflicting appendage pattern, flat rather than raised pale markings, or absence of the inter-pustular network would require a broader specimen-backed comparison.