Genetic Evidence Confirms That the Porostomate Nudibranch Dendrodoris gunnamatta Allan, 1932 Is a Morphotype of Dendrodoris krusensternii (Gray, 1850) (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia)

Abstract

Conspecificity of the morphologically-similar, sympatric nudibranch species Dendrodoris gunnamatta (Allen, 1932) and Dendrodoris krusensternii (Gray, 1850) was tested using sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene. Data analysis supports the presence of phenotypic polymorphy in D. krusensternii where specimens from large estuaries and embayments in central New South Wales, Australia either lack or have highly reduced sky-blue ocellae.