Piseinotecus sp1

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This species has been observed on Reunion Island


Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Dexiarchia
Superfamily : Aeolidioidea
Family : Piseinotecidae
Distribution : Western Pacific of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Phillipines, Southern Japan and Reunion
Maximal size : 20 mm
Abundance : Seldom if ever on the rocky coast


Species characteristics :

Body translucent white with opaque white along the edges of the notum. Black viscera visible through the notum

The cerata has a terminal pale yellow tip and just below an more intense yellow band

Most of the smooth rhinophores and oral tentacles are pale yellow

Piseinotecus sp1
Showing species characteristics...

Photo Sully Bachel
Reunion, Ravine à Jacques, La Possession, 6 m, 15 December 2009, size : 20 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Nathalie Yonow
    Gosliner and worms, list this species in the family Piseinotecidae (Edmunds, 1970) but other authors list this species within Glaucidae (Gray, 1827)

Bibliographic data :

The systematic placement of this little aeolid remains uncertain and that further systematic study is needed.
    The Piseinotocidae (Edmunds, 1970) have a uniseriate radula, the anus is  in the interhepatic space (acleioproct), the cerata are on raised stalks or in rows, only one row from the anterior liver.

References :

 Nudipixel Piseinotecus sp
    Slugsite Piseinotecus sp

Publications :

    Edmunds, M. (1970) Opisthobranchiate Mollusca from Tanzania. II. Eolidacea (Cuthonidae, Piseinotecidae and Facelinidae). Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London, 39: 15-57

Other photos of Piseinotecus sp1 :

Sully Bachel

Reunion, Ravine à Jacques, La Possession, 6 m, 15 December 2009, size : 20 mm

Most of the smooth rhinophores (a) and oral tentacles (b) are pale yellow

The cerata has a terminal pale yellow tip (c) and just below an more intense yellow band (d)

Black viscera (e) visible through the notum

 

 

 

Monika Bachel

Reunion, Cap la Houssaye, Saint Paul, 23 August 2008

A small specimen.

 More photos from Indian Ocean
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