Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Table of Contents - August 2012 - Volume 92, Issue 05  

Research Article

Revision of several poorly known Antarctic aeolid nudibranch species (Mollusca: Gastropoda), with the description of a new species

Ángel Valdésa1 c1, Amy L. Morana2 and H. Arthur Woodsa3

a1 Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, California 91768, USA

a2 Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 132 Long Hall, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, USA

a3 Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, HS104, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA

Abstract

Morphological examination of several specimens of aeolid nudibranchs collected from the Ross Sea, Antarctica, revealed an unexpectedly high number of species. Based on the collected material the following species are re-described and for the first time their colour, reproductive anatomy and radula are illustrated together: Eubranchus glacialis, Cuthona modesta, Cuthona crinita, Cuthona elioti and Guyvalvoria paradoxa. Additionally, a new species of Cuthona is described from this area. The new species differs from other Antarctic and sub-Antarctic species of Cuthona in its external appearance, radular morphology and reproductive anatomy. Information on the egg mass and embryonic development of several species is provided.

(Received August 06 2010)

(Accepted January 20 2011)

(Online publication April 19 2011)

Keywords

Correspondence:

c1 Correspondence should be addressed to: Á. Valdés, Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, California 91768, USA email: aavaldes@csupomona.edu