Babosas de mar psicodélicas: observaciones sobre la ontogenia del color en dos especies de nudibranquios del género Nembrotha (Doridina: Polyceridae)

In recent decades, thanks to the use of integrated taxonomy, the traditional recognition of a nudibranch species based on observation and colour pattern variation has become increasingly questioned, mainly due to the presence of cryptic and pseudocryptic species complexes. Individuals with the same colour pattern can be genetically identical, but individuals with different colour patterns may also be genetically identical and this variation may instead represent different life stages. But things can get even more complicated. What happens when the same species changes its colour pattern radically as it ages? Here we present two extraordinary examples in species of the genus Nembrotha based on laboratory observation. Specimens of Nembrotha livingstonei Allan, 1933 and Nembrotha yonowae Goethel and Debelius, 1992 were collected in Mozambique and kept in captivity as long as feeding was possible. The results showed that colour patterns in both species changed over time and that this change was linked to diet. Furthermore, species delimitation analysis and comparison of the uncorrected COI pairwise distances of examined specimens from Mozambique and others downloaded from GenBank confirmed that N. yonowae Goether and Debelius, 1992 is a junior synonym of N. cristata Bergh, 1877. Similar studies with laboratory observations are needed on other species of the genus, as they were described on the basis of different colouration, but integrated taxonomy may show different results.En las últimas décadas, gracias al uso de la taxonomía integrada, el reconocimiento tradicional de una especie basado en la observación y la variación del patrón de color en los nudibranquios se ha vuelto cada vez más cuestionado, principalmente debido a la presencia de complejos de especies crípticas y pseudocrípticas. Por lo tanto, los individuos con el mismo patrón de color pueden ser genéticamente idénticos, pero los individuos con diferentes patrones de color también pueden ser genéticamente idénticos y, en cambio, esta variación puede representar diferentes etapas de la vida. Pero las cosas pueden complicarse aún más. ¿Qué sucede cuando la misma especie cambia radicalmente su patrón de color a medida que envejece? Aquí presentamos dos ejemplos extraordinarios en especies del género Nembrotha basados en observaciones de laboratorio. Se recolectaron ejemplares de Nembrotha livingstonei Allan, 1933 y Nembrotha yonowae Goethel and Debelius, 1992 en Mozambique y se mantuvieron en cautiverio mientras fue posible alimentarlos. Los resultados mostraron que los patrones de color en ambas especies cambiaron con el tiempo y que este cambio estaba relacionado con la dieta. Además, el análisis de delimitación de especies y la comparación de las distancias por pares no corregidas de COI de ejemplares examinados de Mozambique y otros descargados de GenBank confirmaron que N. yonowae Goether y Debelius, 1992 es un sinónimo menor de N. cristata Bergh, 1877. Estudios similares con observaciones de laboratorio son necesarios en otras especies del género, ya que se describieron en función de una coloración diferente, pero la taxonomía integrada puede mostrar resultados diferentes

Can you find me? A new sponge-like nudibranch from the genus Jorunna Bergh, 1876 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Discodorididae)

The nudibranch diversity of the western Indian Ocean is comparatively one of the least studied in the world. In this paper a sponge-like Discodoridae nudibranch Jorunna liviae sp. nov. is described. The description is based on integrative anatomy, including molecular analysis of two genes (the mitochondrial COI and the nuclear H3), dissections, electron microscopy (SEM) of buccal elements, micro tomography of the spicule’s arrangements and ecological observations. This study provides the first ever molecular data of Jorunna species from the western Indian Ocean, helping to fill the gap to further understand this apparent paraphyletic genus

The bubble snails (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) of Mozambique: an overlooked biodiversity hotspot

This first account, dedicated to the shallow water marine heterobranch gastropods of Mozambique is presented with a focus on the clades Acteonoidea and Cephalaspidea. Specimens were obtained as a result of sporadic sampling and two dedicated field campaigns between the years of 2012 and 2015, conducted along the northern and southern coasts of Mozambique. Specimens were collected by hand in the intertidal and subtidal reefs by snorkelling or SCUBA diving down to a depth of 33 m. Thirty-two species were found, of which 22 are new records to Mozambique and five are new for the Western Indian Ocean. This account raises the total number of shallow water Acteonoidea and Cephalaspidea known in Mozambique to 39 species, which represents approximately 50 % of the Indian Ocean diversity and 83 % of the diversity of these molluscs found in the Red Sea. A gap in sampling was identified in the central swamp/mangrove bio-region of Mozambique, and therefore, we suggest that future research efforts concentrate on or at least consider this region.publishedVersio

Hypselodoris ghardaqana

Hypselodoris ghardaqana (Gohar & Aboul-Ela, 1957) (Figure 10 B) Material examined. One specimen. MB28-004944, 0 4 Nov. 2014, ZA 51, 16m, 16mm, collected by J. Wright. Habitats. Subtropical rocky reef. Occorrence: Zavora. Geographic distribution. Indo-west Pacific. Indonesia (Belle 2007), Thailand, Myanmar (Gosliner et al. 2008), India (Remakrishna et al. 2010), Oman (Gosliner et al. 2008), Red Sea (Gohar & Aboul-Ela 1957) and Mozambique.Published as part of Tibiriçá, Yara, Pola, Marta & Cervera, Juan Lucas, 2017, Astonishing diversity revealed: an annotated and illustrated inventory of Nudipleura (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from Mozambique, pp. 1-133 in Zootaxa 4359 (1) on page 34, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4359.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/106916

Aldisa fragaria Tibirica, Pola & Cervera 2017

Aldisa fragaria Tibiriçá, Pola & Cervera, 2017 (Figure 13 H) Material examined. Five specimens. MB28-004392, ZRP, 22 Apr. 2015, 1m, 37mm; MB28-004393, ZRP, 0 5 Jan. 2014, 0.3m, 34mm; MB28-004394, ZRP, 0 5 Nov. 2010, 1m, 25mm; MB28-0 0 4395, ZRP, 26 May 2013, 1m, 24mm; MB28-004396, ZRP, 26 May 2014, 1m, 33mm. MHN-YT84, ZRP, 2m, 36mm. Habitats. Subtropical tidal reefs. Occurrences. Zavora. Geographic distribution. Western Indian Ocean. Mozambique (Gosliner et al. 2015; Tibiriçá, Pola & Cervera, 2017). Remarks. This species was described based on material from Mozambique, see Tibiriçá et al. 2017 for remarks on geographic distribution and comparasion with A. zavorensis Tibriçá, Pola & Cervera, 2017.Published as part of Tibiriçá, Yara, Pola, Marta & Cervera, Juan Lucas, 2017, Astonishing diversity revealed: an annotated and illustrated inventory of Nudipleura (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from Mozambique, pp. 1-133 in Zootaxa 4359 (1) on page 43, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4359.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/106916

Goniobranchus kitae

<i>Goniobranchus kitae</i> (Gosliner, 1994) <p>(Figure 7 A)</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> One specimen. MB28-004868, BIL, 14 May 2014, 0.5m, 13mm. <b>Habitats.</b> Rock and sand area in a lagoon connected to the sea. <b>Occurrences.</b> Bilene.</p> <p> <b>Geographic distribution.</b> Western Indian Ocean. Madagascar, South Africa (Gosliner <i>et al.</i> 2015) and Mozambique.</p>Published as part of <i>Tibiriçá, Yara, Pola, Marta & Cervera, Juan Lucas, 2017, Astonishing diversity revealed: an annotated and illustrated inventory of Nudipleura (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from Mozambique, pp. 1-133 in Zootaxa 4359 (1)</i> on page 28, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4359.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/1069168">http://zenodo.org/record/1069168</a&gt

Kabeiro Shipman & Gosliner 2015

Kabeiro sp. (Figure 28 A) Material examined. One specimen. MB28-004550, ZRP, 21 May 2012, 1m, 3mm. Habitats. Subtropical tidal reef. Occurrences. Zavora. Geographic distribution. Western Indian Ocean. No other record could be found, thus so far only recorded to Mozambique. Remarks. Based on the external morphology this species appears to be an undescribed species in the genus Kabeiro with an elongate body and evenly dispersed cerata (Shipman & Gosliner 2015).Published as part of Tibiriçá, Yara, Pola, Marta & Cervera, Juan Lucas, 2017, Astonishing diversity revealed: an annotated and illustrated inventory of Nudipleura (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from Mozambique, pp. 1-133 in Zootaxa 4359 (1) on page 87, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4359.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/106916

Phyllidiella pustulosa

<i>Phyllidiella</i> cf. <i>pustulosa</i> (Cuvier, 1804) <p>(Figures 20 C–D)</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Five specimens. ZMBN117079, NKA, 13 Jun. 2014, 20m, 24mm; MB28-004913, NKA, 13 Jun. 2014, 21m, 22mm; MHN-YT1364, NKA, 15 Jun. 2014, 19m, 22mm; ZMBN117084, NKA, 15 Jun. 2014, 18m, 25mm; ZMBN119690, NKA, 15 Jun. 2014 m 19m, 13mm.</p> <p> <b>Habitats.</b> coral reefs.</p> <p> <b>Occurrences.</b> Nacala and Nuarro.</p> <p> <b>Geographic distribution.</b> Indo-west, central Pacific. <i>Phyllidiella pustulosa</i> (Cuvier, 1804) is widely spread in the Indo-Pacific (Brunckhorst 1993). It has been recorded from Hawaii, Society Island to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean (Gosliner <i>et al</i>. 2008).</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> This morphotype resembles the photograph of <i>Phyllidiella pustulosa</i> in Brunckhorst (1993, second specimen on the left, Plate 5, fig. E). Brunckhorst (1993) stated that ontogenetic variation introduced much confusion in the literature. As a result, there are currently eight synonyms for this species (Rosenberg & Bouchet 2012). However, recent molecular studies showed that <i>P. pustulosa</i> is likely to be a species complex with up to four molecular operational taxonomic units (Stoffels <i>et al</i>. 2016). Therefore, this putative species complex and its geographic distribution needs further investigation.</p>Published as part of <i>Tibiriçá, Yara, Pola, Marta & Cervera, Juan Lucas, 2017, Astonishing diversity revealed: an annotated and illustrated inventory of Nudipleura (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from Mozambique, pp. 1-133 in Zootaxa 4359 (1)</i> on page 61, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4359.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/1069168">http://zenodo.org/record/1069168</a&gt