Geitodoris planata

Geitodoris planata is an oval-bodied sea slug with a rigid mantle. Its dorsum features rounded, stalked tubercles, and the background color is grayish-brown with dark brown irregular patches. As it approaches the mantle margin, the color fades and becomes more translucent. Larger tubercles are surrounded by opaque white pigment, and the rhinophores and gill are typically the same color as the dorsum, often with white tips. This species can reach a maximum body length of 65 mm. Geitodoris planata is found in various regions, including the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and parts of the Western Atlantic, such as New Jersey, St. Lucia, and Panama. It is typically located at depths ranging from 91 to 267 meters, although it has also been observed in shallower waters. In Panama, it has been found in coral rubble within predominantly seagrass habitats. The diet of Geitodoris planata consists primarily of sponges, specifically Hemimycale columella and Hymeniacidon perlevis. As a simultaneous hermaphrodite, this species engages in unique mating behavior where individuals will attempt to induce one another to act as male or female. Eggs are laid on a substratum, where they develop and hatch into a planktonic larval stage before growing into adults. Encounters with this species during dives can be intriguing, as divers may observe its distinct coloration and unique body structure in its natural habitat.