Gymnodoris sp.

Gymnodoris sp. 14

( Figs. 11L–N View FIGURE 11 )

Material examined. New Caledonia: South Province: Nouméa, Passe de Boulari ( 22°28.9'S, 166°26.6'E), 15 m depth, 15 Nov 2021, 1 specimen 6 mm preserved length [wreck of La Dieppoise] (MNHN-IM-2019-26458, isolate JD143), leg. A. Doulas. GoogleMaps New Caledonia: North Province: Port of Touho ( 20°46.4'S, 165°14.3'E), 10 m depth, 6 Jan 2022, 1 specimen 6 mm preserved length [breakwater] (MNHN-IM-2019-26459, isolate JD151), leg. A. Doulas. GoogleMaps New Caledonia: Loyalty Is.: Ouvéa, Tiberia ( 20°28.5'S, 166°35.66'E) [Quinzaine des Nudibranches Ouvéa Expedition, stn. QUP29 ], 13 Jan 2024, 1 specimen 6 mm preserved length (MNHN-IM-2019-26457, isolate JD169) GoogleMaps .

Description. Body narrow, elongate, with numerous very small, low, conical tubercles ( Figs. 11L–N View FIGURE 11 ). Head nearly rectangular, with distinct velum possessing 18–20 small tubercles, a large, lamellate, series of large sensory folds on each side. Notal rim absent, velum merges with notum behind rhinophores. Posterior end of foot tapering into blunt “tail.” Color opaque dirty-white, with yellow-orange tubercles, some with red tips. Internal organs partially visible through body wall as pinkish areas. Rhinophores bulbous with narrow tips, 12 lamellae, cream-white. Gill with 12 bipinnate leaves, opaque white, forming full circle around anus. Foot wider than notum, translucent white. Oral tentacles small, blunt.

Phylogenetic position. Gymnodoris sp. 14 is the most basal member of a clade (PP: 0.96, MLB: 78) also including Gymnodoris sp. A and Gymnodoris sp. 53, which are sister to one another (PP: 1, MLB: 99) ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ).

Remarks. Studied by Knutson & Gosliner (2022) based on a specimen from Australia, this species is characterized by having a series of large sensory folds on the sides of the head. Also reported from Papua New Guinea and Australia by Gosliner et al. (2018) as Gymnodoris sp. 14 and from Okinawa, Japan by Nakano (2018) as Gymnodoris sp. 4 . Here we report this species from New Caledonia for the first time.