REVIEW OF THE GENUS DENDRODORIS EHRENBERG, 1831 (GASTROPODA: NUDIBRANCHIA) IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

Six valid species of the nudibranch genus Dendrodons Ehrenberg,1831 inhabit the Atlantic Ocean, including the Mediterraneanand Caribbean Seas. Dendrodons lumbata (Cuvier, 1804), Dendrodonsgrandiflora (Rapp, 1827), Dendrodons nigra (Stimpson, 1855)(immigrant from the Red Sea), Dendrodons krebsu (Mörch,1863), Dendrodoru senegalensis Bouchet, 1975 and Dendrodonswarta Marcus & Gallagher, 1976. Additional data about thebiology and geographical distribution of these species are presented.New evidence suggests that other species assigned to the genusDendrodons, Dendrodons racemosa Pruvot-Fol, 1951 and Dendrodonsminima Pruvot-Fol, 1951, must be included in the genus DoriopsillaBergh, 1880. Three new species of Dendrodoris are describedfrom the Northeastern Atlantic and West Africa;Dendrodons angolensis,Dendrodoris guineana and Dendrodons herytra. The variable external morphology makes species recognition difficult.Instead, the diagnostic characters utilised to separate speciesare the shape of the male cirrus hooks, the structure of thereproductive system and features of the egg-mass. (Received 25 April 1995; accepted 1 August 1995)     

PHYLOGENY OF THE GENUS ROSTANGA (NUDIBRANCHIA), WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW SPECIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Rostanga elandsia sp. nov., Rostanga aureamala sp. nov. andRostanga phepha sp. nov. are characterized by having the radulawith slender innermost lateral teeth, which lack denticles onthe inner side of the cusp and have a single denticle on theouter side. The outermost lateral teeth of these three speciesare elongate, but shorter than in other species of the genus.In addition, R. aureamala is the only species of the genus withrachidian teeth and R. phepha is unique within the genus Rostanga byvirtue of its white coloration with dark spots. A phylogenetic analysis shows that the three new species fromSouth Africa and Rostanga setidens (Odhner, 1939) are the sistergroup of the rest of the genus. The species from Japan and MarshallIslands (North Pacific Ocean) are basal in the sister cladecontaining the other species of Rostanga Bergh, 1879. The tropicalIndo-Pacific species of Rostanga are not monophyletic. The Atlanticand Eastern Pacific species form a monophyletic, derived clade,being the sister group of Rostanga australis Rudman & Avern,1989, which has a narrow range restricted to south eastern Australia.The widespread Indo-Pacific species Rostanga bifurcata Rudman& Avern, 1989, is the sister group of Rostanga dentacus Rudman& Avern, 1989, also widesprad in the tropical western Pacific. This phylogeny suggest s a viariant origin of the Sourth African, Atlantic-EasternPacific, and probably North Pacific species, whereas in thetropical Indo-Pacific most sister speceis are sympatric. (Received 16 May 1999; accepted 31 July 2000)     

MORPHOLOGY, ANATOMY AND HISTOLOGY OF FLABELLINA AFFINIS (GMELIN, 1791) (NUDIBRANCHIA, AEOLIDOIDEA, FLABELLINIDAE) AND ITS RELATION TO OTHER MEDITERRANEAN FLABELLINA SPECIES

The Atlantic and Mediterranean flabellinid Flabellina affinis(Gmelin, 1791) (Opisthobranchia, Nudi-branchia, Aeolidoidea)is examined morphologically, anatomically and histologicallywith special emphasis on characters which have been widely neglectedin recent literature (e.g. the histological structure of theoral glands, typhlosole). The study provides detailed data aboutall organ systems which are compared to existing data of otherauthors. The species described as Flabellina affinis by Bergh(1875; 1886) is considered not to be conspecific with the Flabellinaaffinis examined in this and other studies. Furthermore, Flabellinaaffinis is compared to other Mediterranean species, especiallyF. ischitana (Hirano & Thompson, 1990). F. ischitana differsfrom F. affinis mainly by the structure of the genital system.The phylogenetic trees presented for the genus by Gosliner &Kuzirian (1990) and Gosliner & Willan (1991) are discussed. (Received 5 August 1996; accepted 9 June 1997)     

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF PHYLLIDIOPSIS BERGH (NUDIBRANCHIA: DORIDOIDEA: PHYLLIDIIDAE) FROM THE TROPICAL WESTERN PACIFIC, WITH COMMENTS ON THE ATLANTIC SPECIES

A new species of phyllidiid nudibranch, Phyllidiopsis shireenae,is described. The new species has a middorsal crest insteadof being flattened dorso-ventrally like most phyllidiids. Itsbody is a very pale shade of pink with black bands, and itsrhinophores are salmon pink. The anatomy of the alimentary systemand reproductive system are described. Characters originallyused by Bergh (1875) to differentiate the genus are supportedby this new species. Phyllidiopsis shi-reenae is presently knownfrom coral reef habitats in the extreme western Pacific Ocean.A review of the taxonomic status of the Atlantic specis of Phyllidiopsisis required. ^*Present address: Australian Biological and Environmental Survey.Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, GPO Box 1383,Canberra. ACT 2601. Australia. (Received 15 August 1989; accepted 8 January 1990)     

THE GENUS TRAPANIA (NUDIBRANCHIA: GONIODORIDIDAE) IN THE INDO-WEST PACIFIC

Seven new species of the nudibranch genus Trapania Pruvot-Fol,1931 (Goniodorididae) are described from the Indo-West Pacificand an eighth species, T. japonica (Baba, 1935), originallydescribed from one preserved specimen from Japan, is redescribedfrom specimens collected in Hong Kong and tropical eastern Australia.Three of the new species are from temperate south-eastern Australiaand one from tropical eastern Australia. Two species are knownonly from Hong Kong and a third is recorded from the SudaneseRed Sea as well as Hong Kong. Only ten other species of Trapania have been described, sixof those from Europe, and one each from Brazil, California,Japan and New Zealand. The anatomy and external colour patternof these species is compared with that of the seven new species. (Received 12 December 1986;     

THE GROWTH OF PELTODORIS ATROMACULATA BERGH, 1880 (GASTROPODA: NUDIBRANCHIA) IN THE LABORATORY

The growth of Peltodons atromaculata Bergh, 1880, measured astotal dorsal body area, was followed in the laboratory for 15months. The growth of dorsal brown patches was compared to thetotal area of the mantle, and was shown to be approximatelyconstant over time in the different animals. This numericalapproach can be useful to quantify the body pigmentation clinepreviously described for Mediterranean specimens. P atromaculatahas an annual life-cycle in the laboratory, reaching its maximumsize before opposition. Post-spawning mortality followed a decreasein size for all specimens. Mantle margin autotoray in P atromaculataseems not to be related to defence against predation, but itis a process that takes place before death in laboratory. (Received 1 December 1994; accepted 28 April 1995)     

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE PULMONATE SNAIL PSEUDOTACHEA LITTURATA (PFEIFFER) AND OTHER SPECIES OF PSEUDOTACHEA, IBERUS AND CEPAEA

A population of Pseudotachea litturata (Pfeiffer, 1851) fromTarifa (Càdiz, Spain) has been studied. The morphologicalresults are compared with those from P. splendida, Iberus gualtierianus,I. alonensis, I. marmoralus, I. guiraoanus and four speciesof the genus Cepaea using, as an exploratory method, the Wagnerparsimony procedure and 18 characters of the shell, genitalsystem and karyotype have been analysed. According to this methodit seems that the taxonomical position of P. litturata in thegenus Pseudotachea is confirmed, and agrees with the phylogeneticalrelationships in this group of species. The genus Cepaea seemsto be well established, although two species groups can be distinguished:C. nemoralis—C. hortensis and C. syluatica—C. vindobonensis.These differ mainly in chromosome number, diverticulum lengthand degree of shell polymorphism. Although the present resultsdo not allow us to clarify the current taxonomical problemswithin the genus Iberus, the species studied seem to belongto a natural group (Received 15 September 1987; accepted 1 January 1988)     

Reassessment of the Systematic Status of Miamira Bergh, 1875 and Orodoris Bergh, 1875 (Nudibranchia: Chromodorididae) in Light of Phylogenetic Analysis

The external morphology and anatomy of the opisthobranch gastropodsMiamira sinuata (van Hasselt, 1824) and Orodoris miamiranaBergh, 1875, the type species of the genera Miamira Bergh, 1875and Orodoris Bergh, 1875, and their phylogenetic relationshipsare studied. The phylogeny obtained supports the placement ofM. sinuata and O. miamirana in the genus Ceratosoma J. E. Gray, 1850.Therefore, Miamira and Orodoris become synonyms of the seniorvalid name Ceratosoma. In addition, the family name MiamiridaeBergh, 1891, based on Miamira, is newly recognized as a synonymof Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891. Ceratosoma sinuata and C. miamirana are more closely relatedto the highly derived Ceratosoma alleni than to other membersof the genus. C. miamirana appears to present reversal to theplesiomorphic state in the body shape and has secondarily lostits mantle glands. (Received 5 January 1998; accepted 23 April 1998)     

Die Gattung Bathydoris Bergh, 1884 (Gnathodoridacea) im phylogenetischen System der Nudibranchia (Opisthobranchia, Gastropoda)

The genus Bathydoris Bergh, 1884 (Gnathodoridacea) in the phylogenetic system of the Nudibranchia (Opisthobranchiu, Gastropoda) The position of the genus Bathydoris Bergh, 1884 in the phylogenetic system of the Nudibranchia is discussed. Doridoxa Bergh, 1900, a genus which is assigned to the taxon Gnathodoridacea together with the genus Bathydoris, is taken out from this taxon, lacking snapomorphies. Doridoxa is considered to be a sister grou of the Euctenidiacea, with the transrormation of the right digestive gland into a caecum as the only synaomorphy with the latter. The Gnathodoridacea with the one enus Bathydoris is removed from the taxon Doridacea and considered to be the sister group or the latter. Gnathodoridacea and Doridacea form the taxon Euctenidiacea with the synapomorphy “dorsomedial position of anus and nephroproct”.     

FURTHER STUDIES ON THE TAXONOMY AND BIOLOGY OF THE OCTOCORAL-FEEDING GENUS PHYLLODESMIUM EHRENBERG, 1831 (NUDIBRANCHIA: AEOLIDOIDEA)

The aeolid nudibranch genus Phyllodesmium (Mollusca: Gastropoda)is reviewed, three new species are described and further informationon the biology, anatomy and distribution on the eight previouslyknown species is reported. The genus Ennoia Bergh, 1896 is considereda synonym of Phyllodesmium and the type species Ennoia briareusredescribed. The genus Phyllodesmium is unique amongst the aeolidsin feeding on octocoral cnidarians. This has led to the evolutionof nudibranch- zooxanthellae symbioses, zooanthellae being obtainedfrom the octocoral prey. The adaptations developed throughoutthe genus are described and possible relationships between thespecies proposed. (Received 6 January 1990; accepted 20 May 1990)     

Systematic revision of Jorunna Bergh, 1876 (Nudibranchia: Discodorididae) with a morphological phylogenetic analysis

The genus Jorunna is characterized by a dorsum covered withcaryophyllidia, a prostate with two sections, a penis usuallyunarmed but occasionally armed with hooks, a copulatory spine,the presence of an accessory gland and a labial cuticle smoothor armed with jaw elements. The examination of 216 non-typespecimens, 30 types, and a review of the literature show thatthere are 16 valid species of the genus Jorunna: J. tomentosa(Cuvier, 1804); J. funebris (Kelaart, 1859); J. pantherinaAngas,1864; J. rubescens (Bergh, 1876); J. labialis (Eliot, 1908);J. parva (Baba, 1938); J. spazzola (Marcus, 1955); J. hartleyi(Burn, 1958); J. alisonaeMarcus, 1976; J. lemchei (Marcus, 1976);J. evansi (Eliot, 1906); J. pardusBehrens & Henderson, 1981;J.ramicolaMiller, 1996 and J. onubensis Cervera, García-Gómez& García, 1986. In addition, two new species fromthe Eastern Pacific are described: J. osae n. sp. and J. tempisquensisn. sp. We propose two new combinations: Jorunna parva and J.evansi. New records for the genus Jorunna are provided fromItaly, Algeria, Seychelles, Madagascar, Thailand, Marshall Islands,New Caledonia, Île de la Réunion, Sudan, PapuaNew Guinea, Indonesia, Panama, Costa Rica, Bahamas, and SouthernMexico. We present the first preliminary phylogenetic analysisof this cryptobranch dorid genus, based on morphological anatomicaldata, and discuss the biogeography and evolution of severalcharacters in this group. The phylogeny supports the hypothesisthat the genus Jorunna is a monophyletic group and shows thatKentrodoris is nested within it. (Received 31 December 2004; accepted 10 January 2008)     

CONASSIMINEA, A NEW GENUS OF THE ASSIMINEIDAE (CAENOGASTROPODA: RISSOOIDEA) FROM SOUTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA

A new genus of Assimineidae, Conassiminea, is described fromestuarine habitats in southeastern Australia (New South Wales,Tasmania and Victoria). Two new species, C. studderti and C.zheni, are included in the genus, the former being the typespecies. Conassiminea is distinct from all other assimineidgenera in two autapomorphies in the female reproductive system:the seminal receptacle has two ducts and the bursal duct isextremely wide. The phylogenetic relationships of the new genuswere examined using a morphological dataset. (Received 26 February 2005; accepted 22 April 2005)