Polybranchia samanthae (Medrano & al, 2018)

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This species has been observed on Reunion  Island


Order : Sacoglossa
Superfamily : Limapontioidea
Family : Caliphyllidae
Distribution : Red Sea Hawai and Reunion Island
Maximal size : 40 mm
Abundance : Seldom on the rocky coast and the reef flat zone


Species characteristics :

The ceratas end in a point pigmented with white. They have a green spot surrounded by white pigments and two white papillae, one of which is clearly visible.

Transparent rhinophores have clearly pigmented white tips

 

 poly_orientalis
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Photo Florence Trentin
Reunion, Grand bois, size : 40mm


Remarks :


Bibliographic data :

Seems to be eatingCaulerpa sertularoides
    Issued from  Polybranchia orientalis complex

References :

Sea slug of Hawai :  Polybranchia samanthae

Publications :

Medrano S., Krug P.J., Gosliner T.M., Biju Kumar A. & Valdés Á. (2018). Systematics of Polybranchia Pease, 1860 (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Sacoglossa) based on molecular and morphological data. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

Other photos of Polybranchia samanthae :

Philibert Bidgrain

Reunion, Etang salé lagoon, less 1 m, 3 February 2007, size : 20 mm

 

The rhinophores are long, forked (bifurcated) (a)

Polybranchia contain fine branching (b) digestive gland ducts

Philibert Bidgrain

Reunion, La Saline lagoon, less 1 m, 28 March 2010, size : 15 mm

 

The variation in color between individuals is likely related to the last algae it ate. This one don't ate from a long time ...

 

 More photos from Indian Ocean