The genus Trapania (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) in New Caledonia with descriptions of five new species

The sea slug genus Trapania Pruvot-Fol, 1931 (Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae) is highly diverse, with most species reported from the Indo-Pacific. Here we formally describe five new species of Trapania from New Caledonia, a region recognised as a centre of Indo-Pacific marine biodiversity but poorly documented for this genus. Specimens were examined using an integrative taxonomic approach combining external morphology, radular and reproductive anatomy, and DNA sequence data (COI, 16S, H3). Species delimitation analyses support the distinctiveness of all five taxa. For each species, we provide descriptions, diagnostic features, ecological notes, and comparisons with similar congeners. These results highlight New Caledonia as a hotspot for nudibranch diversity and underscore the importance of integrative approaches in documenting Indo-Pacific marine faunas.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A1B238E9-A07B-448C-AACE-390DA5C5B5F8