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Marionia sp. 09

Species Profile

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Marionia sp. 09

Author: Undescribed

Order: Nudibranchia  Family: Tritoniidae

Maximum Size: 100 mm

Sightings: Sunshine Coast

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This is a large dendronotid nudibranch at over 100 mm in length. The dorsum, gill secondary stalks and sides of the body are covered in large tubercles crowded together with the largest in the centre of the dorsum. The smaller tend to conical in shape and are cream in colour with a light brown centre while the larger are more round-topped and very light brown entirely. The surface of the dorsum beneath these tubercles carries quite low pale orange pustules forming a reticulum. The eight pairs of secondary gill processes located down the lateral edge of the notum are large and plumose forming an even, almost rounded bushy appearance. The pinnate branches are white on their outside faces and very light brown on the inner side. Looking down through the processes the tops of the supporting branches are outlined in a grey hexagonal pattern with blue coloured infills. The white rhinophore clubs have a closed-up arborescent shape and are contained in sheaths with a greatly convoluted white rim and blue tinted internally. The oral veil carries numerous short but compound tentacles essentially cream in colour.

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