Polyphyly of the traditional family Flabellinidae affects a major group of Nudibranchia: aeolidacean taxonomic reassessment with descriptions of several new families, genera, and species (Mollusca, Gastropoda)
Author
Korshunova, Tatiana
Author
Martynov, Alexander
Author
Bakken, Torkild
Author
Evertsen, Jussi
Author
Fletcher, Karin
Author
Mudianta, I Wayan
Author
Saito, Hiroshi
Author
Lundin, Kennet
Author
Michael Schroedl,
Author
Picton, Bernard
text
ZooKeys
2017
717
1
139
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.717.21885
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.717.21885
1313-2970-717-1
C19B43B1B3214CB1B1B2A246CEAC56BC
C19B43B1B3214CB1B1B2A246CEAC56BC
Family
Apataidae
fam. n.
Diagnosis.
Body narrow. Notum fully reduced. Cerata in separate rows, on elevations. Rhinophores perfoliated. Anus mixed, pleuroproctic in higher acleioproctic position.
Distinct
oral glands present. Radula formula 1.1.1. Rachidian teeth cusp compressed by adjacent lateral denticles. Lateral teeth smooth with attenuated process basally. Distal receptaculum seminis. Vas deferens moderately long, with indistinct prostate. External permanent penial collar absent. Penis conical, narrow, always internal unarmed.
Genera included.
Apata
gen. n.,?
Tularia
Burn, 1966.
Remarks.
Another unexpected and novel result is the apparent phylogenetic relationship between
Samlidae
and a North Pacific species,
Coryphella pricei
MacFarland, 1966. In our analysis
C. pricei
appears either as sister to the
Samlidae
s. str. (i.e.
Samla
+
F. babai
) or as a separate clade basal to
Samlidae
,
Eubranchidae
, and
Tergipedidae
(Figs 1, 2). Morphologically
C. pricei
is also quite separate from any
Flabellinidae
s. l. since it possesses peculiar comb-shaped ceratal rows in combination with a relatively long and thick vas deferens and smooth lateral teeth. Thus,
C. pricei
deserves not only a new genus but also a family-level taxon. Despite its somewhat unstable position, a new genus and family are established for
C. pricei
in order to highlight obvious morphological and molecular differences from the
Samlidae
(
Apata
gen. n. and
Apataidae
, respectively).
Tularia bractea
Burn, 1966 was described from southern Australia (
Burn 1966
) and possesses simple raised rows of cerata instead of clusters or stalks, a triserial radula with smooth lateral teeth, and a reproductive system without a supplementary gland at the penis and single distal receptaculum seminis. These characters are in agreement with the diagnosis of the family
Apataidae
, and we therefore included
Tularia
in this family until molecular data are available.