Cerberilla mosslandica McDonald & Nybakken, 1975

Description

A medium- to large-sized aeolid reaching about 60 mm in body length. Ground colour is translucent white, with each ceras bearing a sharp longitudinal red line along its surface — a key diagnostic feature. The cerata have the broad, short, oval to spindle shape characteristic of the genus Cerberilla and are arranged densely and orderly across the dorsum.

The rhinophores are smooth, translucent white at the base and opaque white distally. The oral tentacles are long, translucent white basally and white distally. Short propodial tentacles are present. The foot is broad anteriorly and tapers posteriorly into a long, narrow tail.

Distribution

Type locality: Moss Landing, Monterey Bay, California (Hermosillo & Valdés, 2007). The species ranges from the Pacific coasts of the United States and Canada to the Russian Far East (Sea of Okhotsk, Kamchatka), inhabiting temperate to cold-temperate waters. The Japanese vernacular name "Usushiri-kasumi-minō-umiushi" refers to Usushiri (Hakodate, Hokkaidō), where the species has been observed.

Etymology

The specific epithet mosslandica derives from the type locality, Moss Landing.

Remarks

Members of Cerberilla Bergh, 1873 are sand-dwelling aeolids that feed on small burrowing sea anemones. This species is often found half-buried in sand-rubble substrates.

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References

• Cerberilla mosslandica n. sp., McDonald G. (1975). Cerberilla mosslandica, a new eolid nudibranch from Monterey Bay, California (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia). The Veliger. 17(4): 378-382.
• Cerberilla mosslandica, Hermosillo A. & Valdés Á. (2007). Five new species of aeolid nudibranchs (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia) from the tropical eastern Pacific. American Malacological Bulletin. 22(1): 119-137.
• ウスジリカスミミノウミウシ（新称）, 中野理枝. (2018). 日本のウミウシ. 文一総合出版.