OXYNOE AZUROPUNCTATA, N. SP., A NEW SACOGLOSSAN FROM THE FLORIDA KEYS (MOLLUSCA: OPISTHOBRANCHIA)

A new species of Oxynoe from the Florida Keys is described.It differs from the other Caribbean Oxynoe, O. antillarum Mörch,1863, in color, number and size of papillae, size increase ofradular teeth, diet, and type of development. The type of developmentis extended lecithotrophic. The larvae hatch about 4 weeks afterthe eggs have been deposited, and metamorphosis is completedafter about one additional week. Oxynoe azuropunctata n.sp.feeds on Caulerpa paspaloides, C. cupressoides and C. sertularioides.Details of the feeding process in Oxynoe are described for thefirst time. The junction of the oral tube and the pharynx isequipped with a complex muscular buccal apparatus, part of whichis everted during feeding. The protrusible parts of the buccalapparatus completely surround part of an algal filament, whichis then slit with the radula, and the cell sap is sucked out.The protrusible parts are retracted after the filament has beenreleased. ^*Present address: Ellebjergvej 22, 1 t.h., DK-2450 CopenhagenSV, Denmark (Received 13 November 1979;