ABSTRACT

"THE GYMNODORIDIDAE - A STUDY IN RADULA DIVERSITY "

The Gymnodorididae (Superfamily Anadoridoidea) is a family of tropical nudibranchs, characterised by their limaciform shape and orange or yellow marked colour pattern. The mantle skirt is reduced to a small ridge around the head and the gills are usually small and simply pinnate. Species range in size from less than 10mm to more than 10cm. All species, for which we have information are active carnivores, feeding on other opisthobranch molluscs. Unfortunately the taxonomy of the family is very confused as many species have been inadequately described. With few exceptions the living animals are translucent white, or transparent, with orange or yellow spots or lines. Many descriptions, based almost solely on such external features, have resulted in many subsequent misidentifications. At least 40 names, half of which are synonyms, have been applied to species of the family. There are at least 10 species which are at present undescribed.
In this paper, a comparative review of external features and anatomical characters is presented. The radular morphology is shown to be of particular value, every species showing unique characters, in shape, size and number of teeth.

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