Dermatobranchus rodmani Gosliner & Fahey, 2011

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This species has been observed on Reunion and Madagascar Islands


Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Dexiarchia
Superfamily : Arminoidea
Family : Arminidae
Distribution : Indo West pacific
Maximal size : 12 mm
Abundance :


Species characteristics :

The ground colour of the smooth notum (occasionally with a few low longitudinal ridge), the oral veil, and the foot is pale pinkish white to tan. One or two transverse brown patches are present near the anterior and posterior thirds of the body.

The notum and oral veil have a yellowish margin, which may contain fine punctuations of brown

The rhinophores, are brown with a few opaque white spots on their surface.

 

dermatobranchus rodmani
Showing species characteristics...

Photo Pirjot Pellet
Madagascar, Nosy Bé, 10 m, 1 December 2015, size : 10 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Hsini Lin
    Synonymous : (according Worms)
               - No other name

Bibliographic data :

Material examined by Gosliner T.M. & Fahey S.J.( see references/publications).

Holotype : CASIZ 173400, dissected, west of Nosy Valiha, Radama Islands, Madagascar, collected 20.October.2005 by T. Gosliner
    CASIZ 173425, one specimen, west of Nosy Kalakajoro, Radama Islands, Madagascar (13°58.37'S, 47°41.76'E), 15–17 m depth, collected 17.October .2005 by S. Fahey

Other characteristics

The body shape of the living animal is elongate and triangular, flattened, and narrows at the posterior end.
    The foot projects only slightly beyond the distinct mantle margin.
   There are three low, distinct longitudinal ridges in the larger specimen from Malaysia and no ridges are evident in the material from Madagascar.
    The widely spaced, club-shaped rhinophores are situated behind the oral veil. They have a series of longitudinal lamellae on the rounded club. The stalk does not narrow noticeably
    There are no branchial lamellae under the notum
    The oral veil extends forward and has rounded corners.
    Marginal sacs are visible along the mantle edge and each contains elongate, stiff rodlets
    Etymology : The specific name rodmani is in honour of ames Rodman, long-time Program Officer of the Division of Environmental Biology of the National Science Foundation, who had the vision and determination to realise the creation of several programmes that have fostered the resurgence of systematic biology in the United States.

Similar species

Drematobranchus rodmani is is externally similar to other species with brownish bands or blotches including
D. fasciatus
, D. semilunus and D. tuberculatus. Of these species, it differs from
            - D. fasciatus and D. semilunus in lacking numerous prominent longitudinal ridges
            - D. tuberculatus has elevated tubercles on the notum that are not present in D. rodmani

References :

Philippines Seaslug : Dermatobranchus rodmani
   Okinawa Seaslug : Dermatobranchus rodmani

Publications :

Gosliner T.M. & Fahey S.J. (2011) Previously undocumented diversity and abundance of cryptic species: a phylogenetic analysis of Indo-Pacific Arminidae Rafinesque, 1814 (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) with descriptions of 20 new species of Dermatobranchus . Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 161: 245–356

Other photos of Dermatobranchus rodmani :


Alexandre Laporte

Reunion, Etang sale on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 14 December 2016, size : 10-15 mm

 


Alain-Benoît Rassat

Madagascar, Nosy bé


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