Goniobranchus pruna (Gosliner, 1994)

(Figure 7 C)

Material examined. Two specimens. MB28-004425, ZKW, 13 Jun. 2010, 50m, 6mm; MB28-004571, ZGWS, 13 Jun. 2012, 22m, 8mm.

Habitats. Subtropical rocky reefs and on a wreck.

Occurrences. Zavora.

Geographic distribution. Indo-west Pacific. New Caledonia (Thévenet 2010), Madagascar (Gosliner 1994), South Africa (Gosliner 1987; Gosliner 1994) and Mozambique .

Remarks. Goniobranchus pruna was described based on two immature specimens of 4 and 6mm from South Africa (Gosliner 1994). Despite the immaturity of the specimens, Gosliner (1994) considered his description valid because no other “ Chromodoris ” had orange rhinophores and gills ornamented with white dots. Later, Valdés et al. (1999) described a similar species, Chromodoris mandapamensis . The external differences between these two species, mainly concern to the colour of the rhinophores and gills, the number of spots on the dorsum and the number of rhinophoral lamellae, which may vary ontogenically. Internally, it is not possible to compare the reproductive systems based on original descriptions as data are absent and there are no clear differences in the morphology of the radula or jaw rodlets of these two species (see Gosliner 1994 and Valdés et al. 1999). Thus, it is possible that C. mandapanensis is a junior synonym of G. pruna, however, molecular analyses using material from the type localities are needed to clarify this hypothesis, and whether this species belongs to the genus Chromodoris or Goniobranchus .