The opisthobranch gastropods (Mollusca: Heterobranchia) from Venezuela: an annotated and illustrated inventory of species Author Gutiérrez, Manuel Caballer Author Ortea, Jesús Author Rivero, Nelsy Author Tucker, Gabriela Carias Author Malaquias, Manuel António E. Author Narciso, Samuel text Zootaxa 2015 4034 2 201 256 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.4034.2.1 1fa1722a-e007-4741-bc32-dfb4e64b564f 1175-5326 242115 80170774-B01E-41CE-9551-5D4DF67BD4F9 30. Aplysia brasiliana Rang, 1828 ( Figure 2 J) Material examined. YL, 1 spc., H = 25 mm , ZMBN 84911, 1 spc., H = 45 mm , ZMBN 84910. 3 spcs, H = 20–60 mm , ZMBN 84914. CMM ,>50 spcs, H = 70–106 mm , NRC . ECU ,>50 spcs, H = 25–186 mm , MCC. Ecology. On seagrass or rocky-sandy bottoms ( 1 m deep). This species release a purple fluid when disturbed. Distribution. ABC Islands, Bermuda , Brazil , Colombia , Costa Rica , Guadeloupe , Mexico , USA , Venezuela (Valdés et al. 2006; Rios 2009; Miloslavich et al. 2010; Rosenberg 2009: as A. fasciata ; Yidi & Sarmiento 2011: as A. fasciata . Puerto Viejo, Camuri Grande, Taguao, Las Salinas (Vargas), Mochima Bay, Isla Caribe (Sucre) & Cubagua island (Nueva Esparta): Rivero et al. 2003. La Restinga, Margarita: Grune et al. 2015 ). Remarks. Rosenberg (2009) and Yidi & Sarmiento (2011) considered A. brasiliana a junior synonym of Aplysia fasciata Poiret, 1789 . This is not surprising since there is much confusion surrounding the systematics of the genus Aplysia with names being often used arbitrarily. Only an integrated taxonomic approach combining both morphological, anatomical, and DNA characters across the entire geographical range of species could end the uncertainties surrounding the systematics of Aplysia . Meanwhile we consider that there are characters enough to distinguish both species, of which, only A. brasiliana can be found in the Caribbean.