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A new species of Tritonia (Opisthobranchia: Nudibranchia: Tritoniidae) from the tropical South Atlantic Ocean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2013

Felipe de Vasconcelos Silva*
Affiliation:
LIMCE—Laboratório de Invertebrados Marinhos do Ceará, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, Departamento de Biologia, Bloco 909—Campus do Pici, CEP. 60455-970 Fortaleza—Ceará—Brasil
Victor Manuel De Azevedo
Affiliation:
LIMCE—Laboratório de Invertebrados Marinhos do Ceará, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, Departamento de Biologia, Bloco 909—Campus do Pici, CEP. 60455-970 Fortaleza—Ceará—Brasil
Helena Matthews-Cascon
Affiliation:
LIMCE—Laboratório de Invertebrados Marinhos do Ceará, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, Departamento de Biologia, Bloco 909—Campus do Pici, CEP. 60455-970 Fortaleza—Ceará—Brasil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: F.V. Silva, LIMCE—Laboratório de Invertebrados Marinhos do Ceará, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, Departamento de Biologia, Bloco 909—Campus do Pici, CEP. 60455-970 Fortaleza—Ceará—Brasil email: leafyn@yahoo.com.br

Abstract

A new species of the family Tritoniidae is described from the tropical South Atlantic Ocean. The animal was found off north-east Brazil. Tritonia khaleesi sp. nov. is up to 12 mm long, with a slender white body, of which the notum is covered with one broad white band extending from between the eyes and veil to the tail; veil with 4 velar appendages; retractable white rhinophores; rhinophoral sheath with fleshy extension; seven pairs of branchial plumes; the anus is located between the 3rd and 4th gills on the right side, and the genital opening is under the 2nd gill. Internally, T. khaleesi sp. nov. is distinguished from other tritoniids by jaws with 10–14 rows of denticles on the inner lips, absence of stomach plates and the radular formula 32 × 2–5.1.1.1.2–5 teeth. Tritonia khaleesi sp. nov. is the only Tritonia that possesses a unicuspid rachidian tooth as an adult.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2013 

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References

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