Remarks :
These two species are described from our area, but at this time the three internal shell collected on specimens from Reunion ( M. Jay and P. Bidgrain) and Mauritius ( N. Yonow) corresponded to Dolabella auricularia description, so, we considered that all these specimens are D. auricularia until we find D. gigas shell.
Thank to Nathalie Yonow, for helping to build this page
Differences between these two similar species :
| Dolabella auricularia | Dolabella Gigas |
Distribution : Indo-West Pacific |
Distribution : Mauritius, Reunion... |
Anatomically : The penis is unarmed |
Anatomically : The penis is armed with small spines |
Morphologie : There is no clear information on how the animal of D. gigas differs externallly from that of D. auricularia. Some reports suggest the body of D. auricularia is covered with flattened warts without papillae, while other reports say this species has papillae. And there is the same report for D. gigas |
|
| Shell : External view No flat wing on the knob of the shell. The open V-shape in the shell is wide |
Shell : External view There is a really large and flat wing on the knob of the shell The open V-shape in the shell is narrow |
 |
 |
| Shell from Reunion, Indian Ocean, AM C36759. 67mm wide. Photo : Alison Miller |
Shell from Australian Museum collection (acquired in late 19th century) Either from Mauritius or Reunion, AM C43526. 72mm longest diameter Photo : Alison Miller. |
Shell from Reunion Island Specimens :
Specimen 1 : Maurice Jay D. auricularia shell... Shell : Internal view, size : 60 mm
|
The body is covered with flattened warts without papillae "wart form" |
 |
 |
Specimen 2 : Philibert Bidgrain D. auricularia shell... Shell : Internal and external view, size : 25 mm Animal : A dead specimen of 120-150 mm, found on the beach. The body is covered with flattened warts without papillae "wart form" |
 |
 . |
|
Shell from Mauritius specimen :
Specimen 1 : Nathalie Yonow D. auricularia shell... Shell : Internal and external view, size : 20 mm Animal : Found in Pereybere, 1,5 m in the lagoon, 1 October 1985, size : 200 mm The body is covered with flattened warts without papillae "wart form"
|
 |
