Hantazuia: three new sea slugs (including one named after me)

Hantazuia: three new sea slugs (including one named after me)

Jun 27, 2026 ·

A paper has just been published in which three nudibranchs I helped collect were described as new species — within a new genus, in a new family.

Korshunova T., Fletcher K. & Martynov A. (2025). The endless forms are the most differentiated — how taxonomic pseudo-optimization masked natural diversity and evolution: the nudibranch case. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 204(4): zlaf057. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf057

A new family and genus

The new family Hantazuidae and the new genus Hantazuia have been erected. The name derives from "Umiushi Hunters," a diving shop in Jōgashima (Sagami Bay, central Japan) that is also a sponsor of SEASLUG.WORLD — "Hunters" + the genitive suffix "-ia."

Three new species of Hantazuia

The following three new species have been described in this genus.

Hantazuia yugoikedai

Hantazuia yugoikedai ?
Hantazuia yugoikedai ?

Etymology: named after Mr Yugo Ikeda of "Umiushi Hunters."

Type locality: Jōgashima area, Honshu (central Japan).

External features: body colour yellow to lemon-yellow. The penial stylet (a needle-like copulatory structure) is long and strongly curved.

Hantazuia kimotoi

Hantazuia kimotoi
Hantazuia kimotoi

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