Author: Innabi, Stout & Valdés, 2023

Order: Nudibranchia  Family: Discodorididae

Maximum Size: 27 mm

Sightings: Sunshine Coast

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Jorunna daoulasi Innabi, Stout & Valdés, 2023

A small and highly cryptic species of Discodorididae nudibranch.

The body of Jorunna daoulasi is narrow and elongate being pinkish grey in colour overlaid with a complex network of white lines of differing thickness and carrying numerous caryophyllidia. The main network is composed of the thickest white lines and the spaces so formed in-between are filled with a close network of much finer white lines. This appearance, colour and pattern, matches closely the surface of its sponge prey such that it is cryptic in situ. The lamellate rhinophores are small, grey in colour with white-edged lamellae and white tips, emerging from low sheaths. The gill is composed of 9 branches overlapping and held upright, emerging from a low sheath. The arrangement of the gill can mimic the oscula of its host sponge.

Jorunna daoulasi is nearly always found upon its preferred sponge food.

Distribution is Western Pacific being recorded from Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, PNG, New Caledonia and Queensland, Australia.

Previously known on this site as Jorunna sp. 04 – Changed 29/03/2023

David A. Mullins – March 2023

References:
– Camacho-García, Y. E. & Gosliner, T. M. (2008). Systematic revision of Jorunna Bergh, 1876 (Nudi- branchia: Discodorididae) with a morphological phylogenetic analysis. Journal of Molluscan Studies 74(2): 143–181.

– Hervé, J-F. (2010) Guide des Nudibranchs de Nouvelle-Calédonie et Autres Opisthobranches. Catherine Ledru, Nouméa, New Caledonia.

– Gosliner, T. M., Valde ́s, A ́. & Behrens, D. W. (2018). Nudibranch & Sea Slug Identification – Indo-Pacific, 2nd Edition. New World Publications, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

– Innabi, J., Stout, C.C. & Valdés, A. (2023). Seven new “cryptic” species of Discodorididae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Nudibranchia) from New Caledonia. ZooKeys 1152: 45–95.