This species shows up most often in the literature and on the web as Goniodoris joubini, but it is possible an earlier name is G. aspersa. The figure in Alder & Hancock's (1864) original description looks enough like this species that I think it is likely the same. However, there are a number of Pelagella species and it may not be possible to ascertain the identity of Alder & Hancock's from their small drawing and brief description. Somewhere between 60 and 70 specimens of this species were found at Enewetak, Bikini, and Kwajalein Atolls. Unfortunately, I cannot say exactly how many since for part of that period, I was lumping this species with a separate species, Pelagella scottjohnsoni , which memory tells me was considerably less common than the true P. joubini. Specimens ranged from 6 to 17mm in length, and were mostly found on lagoon reefs and pinnacles under dead coral. The largest specimen at 17mm was found attached to a piling under an old pier at Medren Island, Enewetak Atoll. Pelagella joubini was first reported in the Marshalls from Enewetak, Kwajalein and Bikini Atolls as Goniodoris joubini by Johnson & Boucher (1984).
One of the two specimens below probably deposited the egg mass in the center.
The next two shots show a dark 7mm individual found under a rock on a Kwajalein Atoll lagoon pinnacle on 21 June 2010.
Below is the figure of Goniodoris aspersa from Alder & Hancock (1864). A summary of their description follows: Elongate, densely and minutely freckled with dark chocolate brown. Margins slightly sinuate with the sides and front turned up like a rounded lobe. Pale margin with black and yellow spots and an irregular pale line down each side of the mantle. Obtuse carinated ridge from the tail to the dorsum. Rhinophores colored as body. Gills 5 small stalks, bi or tripinnate, freckled dark above with yellow tips.
Created 3 January 2007
Updated 22 May 2023