An updated inventory of sea slugs from Koh Tao, Thailand, with notes on their ecology and a dramatic biodiversity increase for Thai waters
Author
Mehrotra, Rahul
Reef Biology Research Group. Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand & Aow Thai Marine Ecology Center, Koh Mun Nai, Kram, Klaeng District, Rayong 21110, Thailand
Author
A. Caballer Gutierrez, Manuel
American University of Paris, Department of Computer Science Math and Environmental Science, 6 rue du Colonel Combes, 75007 Paris, France & Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, 55 rue de Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
Author
M. Scott, Chad
Conservation Diver. 7321 Timber Trail Road, Evergreen, Colorado, 80439, USA
Author
Arnold, Spencer
Conservation Diver. 7321 Timber Trail Road, Evergreen, Colorado, 80439, USA
Author
Monchanin, Coline
Aow Thai Marine Ecology Center, Koh Mun Nai, Kram, Klaeng District, Rayong 21110, Thailand & Research Center on Animal Cognition (CRCA), Center for Integrative Biology (CBI); CNRS, University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, France
Author
Viyakarn, Voranop
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2089-6356
Reef Biology Research Group. Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Author
Chavanich, Suchana
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6266-7300
Reef Biology Research Group. Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand & Center of Excellence for Marine Biotechnology, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
suchana.c@chula.ac.th
text
ZooKeys
2021
2021-06-09
1042
73
188
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1042.64474
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1042.64474
1313-2970-1042-73
9CF986D86A474E179A67245C78FB8AFD
1BB0A10A35DD5541850FDAFFDB7119C2
*
Elysia cf. tomentosa Jensen, 1997
Figure 6B
Material examined.
One specimen
37 mm
, CB.
Ecology.
In soft sediment habitats outside the coral reef. Observed feeding on a pinnate form of
Caulerpa racemosa
(
Forsskal
) J. Agardh, 1873 which is found chiefly in soft sediment habitats beyond the coral reef. A more lenticular/globular form of the algae can be abundant in some shallow, degraded reef habitats; however, specimens from Koh Tao not been observed associated with this variety. Depth 12-20 m.
Distribution.
At present
Elysia tomentosa
is considered widespread across the Indo-Pacific (but see remarks below) including Iran (
Oladi et al. 2018
), Madagascar, Malaysia (
Gosliner et al. 2008
), Australia (
Jensen 1997
),
Reunion
, India, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, and Hawaii (
Jensen 2015
). Likely introduced to the Mediterranean alongside the highly invasive
Caulerpa
spp. (
Zenetos et al. 2010
). Here representing a first record for Thai waters.
Remarks.
Recent molecular investigations have found that specimens recognised as
Elysia tomentosa
likely correspond to a complex of at least six species (
Krug et al. 2013
). Discussions about the identity of specimens identifiable by black marginal lines along the parapodia and the similar species
Elysia expansa
(
O'Donoghue
, 1924) have yet to be resolved (
Rudman 2009a
;
Krug et al. 2013
). Additionally,
Oladi et al. (2018)
recently documented a species in this complex from Iran that matches a sequence of
E. cf. tomentosa
from the Andaman coast of Thailand, by Cornelius Swennen (GenBank accession number KC573755.1); however, no record of this species from the waters of Thailand has been found in the literature to date. Greater sampling efforts from more locations, with an assessment of internal characters, are needed to clarify this complex, including specimens from Koh Tao.