Odontoglaja mosaica    Gosliner, 2011

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This species has been observed on Réunion and Madagascar Islands


Order
: Cephalaspidea
Superfamily : Philinoidea
Family : Aglajidae
Distribution : Madagascar, South Africa, Red Sea and Reunion
Maximal size : 15 mm
Abundance : Seldom if ever on the rocky coast

Species characteristics :

The surface of the body and parapodia varie from white to cream with reticulated network of orange to brown lines that form a mosaic-like pattern on the notum, parapodia and ventral surface. In the center of each of these reticulations is a yellow spot.

Where reticulations are absent, there are small, scattered orange to dark brown spots.

On the cephalic shield and the posterior shield four green patches both with some inner blue dots and blacks dots marking the edge are present that form a diamond-shaped pattern. A single other green patch is also present on each parapodium.

odontoglaja cf guamensis
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Photo Christophe Cadet
Reunion, Etang salé, on the rocky coast, less 1 m , 13 March 2010, size : 8 mm

See more about : Odontoglaja mosaica variability in Southwest Indian ocean
    See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow
    Our specimens present some variation from the original description of Gosliner 2011
            - In Gosliner description : On the cephalic shield four brown spots are present that form a diamond-shaped pattern. A single brown patch is also present on each parapodium.
            - In our specimens : On the cephalic shield and the posterior shield four green patches both with some inner blue dots and blacks dots marking the edge are present that form a diamond-shaped pattern. A single other green patch is also present on each parapodium.
    Synonymes (d'après worms) :
          - Aucun

Bibliographic data :

The anterior portion of the cephalic shield, the entire length of the parapodia and the posterior end of the posterior shield, including its posterior extensions, have a reticulated network of orange lines that form a mosaic-like pattern. In the center of each of these reticulations is a yellow spot.
    On the posterior portion of the cephalic shield and on the anterior portion of the posterior shield, where reticulations are absent, there are small, scattered orange spots.
    The left lateral posterior lobe of the posterior shield is elongate and wide, terminating in an acute apex. The right posterior lobe is short, triangular and acutely pointed.
    Odontoglaja mosaica form mating chains where three or more animals mate simultaneously, the ones in the middle being simultaneously male and female
    This species is found on shallow to moderately deep reefs where it is generally found under coral rubble in 3–22 m depth. No observations of feeding have been observed in the field, but one specimen dissected in this study had the entire crop filled with benthic copepods, on which it presumably feeds.
    The name odontoglaja means the "toothed aglaja" because it has radular teeth which are absent in other aglajids, and links the family to the philinids and gastropterids, which have similar radular teeth. But in other anatomical features is clearly an aglajid
    Etymology.The name “mosaica” comes from Latin mosaic, referring to the reticulated pattern on the body appearing like a pattern of tiles.
    This species looks like Odontoglaja guamensis, but O. guamensis never has the orange reticulate markings found in O. mosaica, while O. mosaica never has the prominent tubercles found in O. guamensis.

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Odontoglaja guamensis
   Nudipixel Odontoglaja guamensis and Odontoglaja sp

Publications :

Gosliner, T.M., 2011. Six new species of aglajid opistobranch mollusks from the tropical Indo-Pacific. Zootaxa, 2751 : 1-24
    Rudman, W.B.,1978. A new species and genus of the Aglajidae and the evolution of the philinacean opisthobranch molluscs. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 62 : 89-107

Other photos of Odontoglaja mosaica :


Christophe Cadet

Reunion, Etang salé, on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 22 February 2010, size : 4-6 mm

   - The left lobe (a) is rather solid and long, while the right lobe (b) is truncated
      - There are reticulations on the notum, parapodia and ventral surface. In the center of each of these reticulations is a yellow spot. (c).


Chritophe Cadet

Reunion, Etang salé, on the rocky coast, less 1 m, October 2010, size : 10-20 mm

15 specimens between 10 to 20 mm observed in a permanent pool on the rocky coast...

On the cephalic shield (a) and the posterior shield (b) four green patches both with some inner blue dots and blacks dots marking the edge are present that form a diamond-shaped pattern. A single other green patch is also present on each parapodium (c).


Chritophe Cadet

Reunion, Etang salé, on the rocky coast, less 1 m, October 2010, size : 10-20 mm

15 specimens between 10 to 20 mm observed in a permanent pool on the rocky coast...


Alain-Benoît Rassat

Madagascar, Nosy Bé, Olaf, 20 m, 12 March 2016, size : 10 mm

A specimen with a very pale coloration....

The green patches are hardly visible (a)


Philibert Bidgrain

Reunion, Etang salé, on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 3 March 2011, size : 12 mm

 


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See more about : Odontoglaja mosaica variability in Southwest Indian ocean