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
*
Dermatobranchus sp. 1
Figure 19G, H
Material examined.
Three specimens
28-40 mm
, SB.
Ecology.
Exclusive to the soft sediment habitats outside the coral reef where it feeds on colonies of the octocoral
Dendronephthya
sp. Depth 14-24 m.
Distribution.
Unknown.
Remarks.
A species that vaguely resembles but is distinct from
Dermatobranchus semilunus
is regularly recorded from the same habitats and locations as other soft-sediment dwelling members of the genus. Specimens of
Dermatobranchus
sp. 1 externally appear to have characteristics of
D. fasciatus
and
D. semilunus
. All specimens have prominent longitudinal ridges on a generally white dorsum, with numerous black spots of varying sizes distributed along the ridges and margin of the oral veil. The oral veil always has patches of grey and the margin is sometimes pigmented with a yellow-pink band which is often pale or completely absent in some specimens. The dorsal surface usually has a single horizontal diffuse band approximately one third of the total animal length. The foot is pale pink to white, sometimes with numerous small black spots. The rhinophores have white tips, dark clubs with white lines along the lamellae, and white stalks with dark grey pigment along the inner edge of the stalks often forming a dark grey band in between and anterior to the rhinophores.