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
83.
Caribranchus morsomus
(
Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1962
)
(
Figure 4
F–G)
Material examined.
CSM, 1 spc., H =
60 mm
, MCC.
Ecology.
Rocky shores (
5–20 m
deep), feeding on red sponge. Due to his colour and swimming behaviour, has been called “Spanish dancer”.
Distribution.
ABC Islands,
Cayman Islands
,
Colombia
,
Costa Rica
,
Guadeloupe
,
Panama
,
Puerto Rico
,
USA
,
Virgin Islands
,
Venezuela
(Valdés
et al.
2006).
Remarks.
Valdés
et al
. (2006) considered the (Caribbean) genus
Caribranchus
a synonym of (the Indo- Pacific)
Hexabranchus
arguing the lack of phylogenetic evidences to support the former genus. However,
Caribranchus
is characterized by presence of tubercles on the dorsum, smooth labial cuticle, and radula with medial tooth, whereas
Hexabranchus
have smooth dorsum, armed labial cuticles with sticks, and radula lacking medial tooth. We interprete such differences are sufficient to continue with both genera, even if both are monotypic.
Venezuela
is the southern limit of the distribution of this species.