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Gymnodoris aurita (Gould, 1852)
(fig. 5, pl. 3 fig. 3)
Doris aurita Gould, 1852: 299, pl. 23, figs 394.
Gymnodoris aurita Gosliner & Behrens, 1997: 287, figs 1A, 2A-D, 3A-D; Gosliner et al., 2008: 146.
Material.— Bali, Indonesia, photos of one individual, 26.xi.2005, E. Kodiat.
Non-Indonesian material.— RMNH.MOL.131664, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines, night dive 8 m depth, v.1996, two specimens 25 mm and 35 mm long both pres. (totally flat), leg. and photos H. Debelius.
Description.— Both specimens were bright orange with scattered raised yellow pustules and a large open circlet of red and yellow gills, spreading beyond the width of the animal (pl. 3 fig. 3). The foot and unusual tubular oral tentacles were bordered by yellow, and the small rhinophores were also yellow. The radula of the 35 mm specimen is incomplete, but it has at least 14 rows with a maximum of 33 teeth per half row. The first lateral is small in comparison to the remainder, approximately 1/3 the size (fig. 5). It has a broad base with a large flattened cusp. The remainder have a thin and elongated cusp, and the last three teeth in each row have reduced bases.
Remarks.— The photographs of external morphology and the radula of the specimens described here compare favourably with those given by Gosliner & Behrens (1997). Originally described from Fiji and more recently from the Philippines, the species has been reliably photographed from Indonesia (Tonozuka, 2003; E. Kodiat, pers. comm.; numerous photographs on NudiPixel). Gymnodoris aurita is limited to the central and western Pacific where it grows to 100 mm.