Astonishing diversity revealed: an annotated and illustrated inventory of Nudipleura (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from Mozambique
Author
Tibiriçá, Yara
Author
Pola, Marta
Author
Cervera, Juan Lucas
text
Zootaxa
2017
2017-12-01
4359
1
1
133
journal article
31260
10.11646/zootaxa.4359.1.1
a5cbd5ef-7f49-4a94-a2f4-61adcc8c8d01
1175-5326
1069168
8D06174D-B19F-4B5C-B9B0-DA74E6D43C75
Nembrotha
cf.
yonowae
Goethel & Debelius, 1992
(
Figure 24 F
)
Material examined.
Eleven specimens. MB28-004421, ZWH,
31 May
2010
, 16m,
42mm
; MB28-004422, ZWH, 0
7 Jun. 2010
, ZWH,
18m
,
25mm
; MB28-0 0 4424, ZWH,
27 May
2010
, 18m,
18mm
; MB28-0 0 4547, ZRP,
20
May
2012
, 2m,
38mm
, collected by S. Bruck; MB28-004707, ZRP, 0
6 Aug. 2013
, 0.5m,
16mm
; MHN-YT1506, ZWH, 0
2
Apr.
2015
, 15m,
21mm
; MB28-004980, ZWH, 0
3
Apr.
2015
, 17m,
16mm
; MB28-005003, ZWH,
27 May
2015
, 15m,
22mm
, collected by M. Andskog; MB28-005004, ZWH,
27 May
2015
, 15m,
28mm
, collected by M. Andskog; MB28-005020, ZWH; 0
4 Aug.
2015
, 17m,
28mm
; MB28-005021, ZWH, 0
4 Aug.
2015
, 17m,
42mm
.
Habitats.
Subtropical tidal reefs and rocky reefs.
Occurrences.
Zavora.
Geographic distribution.
Indo-west Pacific.
Japan
(Gosliner
et al
. 2008),
Papua
New Guinea
,
Philippines
(
Pola
et al.
2008
),
South
Africa
(
Gosliner 1987
) and
Mozambique
.
Remarks.
Often found feeding on the ascidian
Eudistoma caeruleum
(Sluiter, 1909)
, this species is very similar to the description of
N. yonowae
, although it was only based on external morphology and no
type
material exists (
Goethel & Debelius 1992
). Since species of the genus
Nembrotha
can be highly variable in colour, it is difficult to confirm this identification. Moreover,
Pola
et al
. (2008)
note that, so far, there are no clear differences between
N. nigerrima
,
N. cristata
and
N. yonowae
. Therefore additional studies are needed to clarify this potential complex.