Gymnodoris sp.

Gymnodoris sp. 34

( Figs. 12D–F View FIGURE 12 )

Material examined. New Caledonia: Loyalty Is.: Ouvéa, Tiberia ( 20°28.5'S, 166°35.66'E), 0 m depth [Quinzaine des Nudibranches Ouvéa Expedition, stn. QUP27 ], 12 Jan 2024, 1 specimen 4 mm preserved length (MNHN-IM-2019-26453, isolate JD163); 1 specimen 5 mm preserved length (MNHN-IM-2019-26517, isolate JD184) GoogleMaps . New Caledonia: South Province: Nouméa, Ilôt Song ( 22°16.9'S, 166°28.8'E), 2 m depth, 20 Oct 2021, 1 specimen 4 mm preserved length [rocky coastal area] (MNHN-IM-2019-26454, isolate JD145), leg. Y. Thévenet. GoogleMaps

Description. Body oval to elongate, tapering posteriorly into long conical “tail;” numerous, small, conical tubercles ( Figs. 12D–F View FIGURE 12 ). Distinct velum with several irregular projections/tubercles; notal rim absent, velum merges with notum behind rhinophores. Color translucent white, tubercles orange-red; posterior end translucent. Internal organs partially visible through body wall as opaque white, yellow masses. Rhinophores conical with 8 transverse lamellae, club pale brown, stalk translucent white. Gill inconspicuous with of 8 small, simple, translucent white leaves, with opaque white bases, arranged in transverse row. Foot narrower than notum, translucent white. Oral tentacles small, blunt.

Phylogenetic position. Gymnodoris sp. 34 is sister to Gymnodoris sp. 47 (PP: 1, MLB: 100) and this clade is sister (PP: 1, MLB: 92) to a larger clade (PP: 0.91, MLB: 84) including Gymnodoris sp. 24, Gymnodoris sp. 48, Gymnodoris sp. 54, and Gymnodoris lebouteillerorum sp. nov. ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ).

Remarks. This undescribed species is characterized by having a pointed head anteriorly with a prominent orange line ( Gosliner et al., 2018). Knutson & Gosliner (2022) studied specimens from Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and the Marshall Islands and it is here reported from New Caledonia for the first time.