The original description of this species from ''Voyage de la corvette l'Astrolabe
in 1832: The length of the body is reported to reach 100 mm but the original description is of an animal 12–15 ligne (27–34 mm) in length. A number of similar species are known to occur within the Goniobranchus tinctorius colour group. The complex consists of at least 7 species and the true G. reticulatus'' is probably not the one normally being identified with this name. ==References==