Baeolidia rieae Carmona, Pola, Gosliner & Cervera, 2014

Description

Body short, broad, tapering close towards posterior end of foot. Foot corners rounded. Body colour translucent. Dark ochre and pearly white pigmentation over notum. Rhinophores same colour as ground body colour with inconspicuous papillae. Apex pearly white. Cerata large, flattened, almost leaf-like. Cerata light ochre with pearly white, dark ochre and iridescent green pigmentation. Cnidosacs white. Cerata in one arch followed by three rows, leaving a distinct gap between pre- and post-pericardial groups. Each arch with 2-5 cerata, decreasing in size towards the foot. Anus cleioproctic, behind first right row. Gonopore behind the anteriormost row on right. Feeds on green zoanthids.

Distribution

So far, only known from Japan (present study). Type locality: Amami-Ohoshima Island, Japan (7 m, close to green zoanthids).

Etymology

Verbatim from the original description (Carmona et al. 2014, Zootaxa 3802 (4): 496):

This species is named after Rie Nakano who kindly provided us material from Japan, including this new species.

Remarks

Described as a new species in Carmona, Pola, Gosliner & a 2014 revision Zootaxa 3802 (4): 477-514. The author noted:

Baeolidia rieae sp. nov. is clearly distinguishable from other members of the genus by its conspicuous iridescent pigmentation. Only Baeolidia lunaris sp. nov. and Baeolidia gracilis sp. nov. ... have this kind of pigment

(p.496). B. lunaris differs in cerata colouration and a characteristic white spot on the cerata bases; B. gracilis has a much darker body, larger cerata and an opaque white line on the inner cerata margin. The radular teeth of B. rieae are bilobed with a minute central cusp, whereas those of B. gracilis only have a central notch.

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References

• Baeolidia rieae sp. nov., Carmona L., Pola M., Gosliner T.M. & Cervera J.L. 2014. Review of Baeolidia, the largest genus of Aeolidiidae (Mollusca: Nudibranchia), with the description of five new species. Zootaxa, 3802 (4): 477–514.
• ウテンミノウミウシ(新称), 中野理枝, 朝倉知子, 池田紫, 石川雅教, 今本淳, 岩瀬南美, 西田和記, 堀江諒, 山田久子 & 渡井久美. (2017). 奄美大島北部海域における後鰓類相の調査報告. Kuroshio Biosphere. 13: 1-18 + 6 pls.
• ウテンミノウミウシ, 中野理枝. (2018). 日本のウミウシ. 文一総合出版.