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
Berthellina delicata
(
Pease, 1861
)
species complex
(
Figures 2 B–D
)
Material examined.
Twelve specimens. MB28-005057, ZWH,
5 Dec.
2011
, 16m,
40mm
; MB28-005058, ZRP, 0
7 Jun.
2012
, 2m,
30mm
; MB28-00 5059, ZRP, 0
7 Jun.
2012
, 1m,
28mm
; MB28-005060, ZRP, 0
7 Jun.
2012
, 2m,
30mm
; MB28-005061, ZRP,
26 May
2013
, 1m,
30mm
; MB28-005062, ZAR,
35m
,
20mm
; MHN-YT1013, VIS3,
12 Nov.
2013
, 5m,
18mm
; MB28-005063, VIS3,
12 Nov.
2013
, 5m,
14mm
; MB28-005 0 64, POA, 0
8 May
2014
, 41m,
18mm
; MB28-005065, NCh6, 0
5 Jun.
2014
, 3m,
21mm
; ZMBN105155,
21 May 2015
, VIAIR, 2spcs.,
4m
,
12–26mm
.
Habitats.
Subtropical tidal reefs, rocky reefs and tropical coral reefs and bommies.
Occurrences.
Ponta do Ouro, Zavora, Nuarro and Vamizi Island.
Geographic distribution.
Indo-west, central Pacific. Hawaii,
Midway Atoll
(Gosliner
et al
. 2008),
Japan
(
Baba 1949
),
Papua New Guinea
,
Seychelles
,
Réunion
Island (Gosliner
et al
. 2008) and
Mozambique
(
Martens 1879
).
Remarks.
Three-colour morphotypes were found: yellowish with a delicate reticulated pattern on the dorsum (
Fig. 2 B
); a translucent yellow body with low yellow tubercles (
Fig. 2 C
); and an orange body with white specks (
Fig. 2 D
). The variety of habitats, depths and specimen colours suggest that the animals collected here probably represent a complex of species. The systematics of
Berthellina
from the Indo-Pacific are in need of a comprehensive review (
Cervera
et al.
1999
;
Moustafa
et al.
2016
), because this taxon is indistinguishable by external characteristics alone (
Gardiner 1936
; Gosliner
et al.
2008;
Alvim & Pimenta 2015
).