Author: Smirnoff, Donohoo & Gosliner, 2022

Order: Nudibranchia  Family: Goniodorididae

Maximum Size: 5 mm

Sightings: Anilao, Philippines

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Trapania lemnalioides Smirnoff, Donohoo, & Gosliner, 2022 

A small nudibranch at 3 to 5 mm in length. The body is tubular, elongate, tapers posteriorly and is devoid of any notal margin. The anterior corners of the foot are well-developed into curved propodial tentacles of a similar length to the oral tentacles. The oral tentacles are large, long, conical and curved posteriorly. The rhinophores are the most distinctive feature being comparatively large with a long thick stalk and a larger bulbous club bearing four to five “coarse” lamellae ending in a protruding tip. Gills are comparatively small consisting of three bipinnate branches. The extrabranchial and extrarhinophoral processes are of equal size – large compared to the gill and small compared to the rhinophores.

The whole animal is covered in a “frosting” of white pigmented specks that varies in coverage density, being less upon the head, rhinophore stalks and tail region, thus appearing pinkish in those regions.

Believed to feed on entoprocts, also known as kamptozoans (Phylum Entoprocta), that live in association with certain sponges.

The name Trapania lemanioides is incorrect through a publishing error and has been subsequently corrected to Trapania lemnalioides. The specific epithet is derived from this species resemblance to the octocoral genus Lemnalia upon which it is often recorded.

This is the Trapania sp. 2 of NSSI, 2018.

David A. Mullins – May 2025

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

– Behrens, D., image by Cowdery, D. (2018). Opisthobranch of the Week, Week: 1058. Mike Miller’s Slug Site. Available at: http://slugsite.us/bow2007/nudwk1058.htm.

– Smirnoff, D. S.; Donohoo, S. A.; Gosliner, T. M. (2022). Extra-branchial processes manifest extra diversity: systematics of the genus Trapania (Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae) and nine new species descriptions. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 196(1): 270-313.

– Smirnoff, D. S.; Donohoo, S. A.; Gosliner, T. M. (2022). Revision to the nomenclatural status of Trapania (Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 196, 314-315.