Cyerce basi K. Moreno, Gosliner, N. G. Wilson, Krug & Á. Valdés, 2025
- Location
- Sidem, Tulamben, Pulau Bali, Indonesia
- Date
- 2017/06/20
- Length
- 30mm
- Depth
- 20.0m
- Water temperature
- 29.0℃
Description
Body translucent and nearly transparent, with leaf-like, inflated, obovate cerata arranged in lateral rows. White vein-like striations run throughout the surface of each ceras; the margin is outlined with minute white specks and lined by infra-marginal triangular clusters of white speckling with brown spots. A fluorescent green spot sits at the base of each ceras, and brown structures unrelated to the digestive gland can be seen through the translucent tissue. Cerata occasionally take on a reddish hue in some specimens. Rhinophores are translucent white with white speckling at the tips. As in other Cyerce, the cerata autotomise readily when the animal is disturbed and regenerate later. The holotype measured 14 mm in preserved length.Distribution
Western Pacific tropics. The type locality is Koumac, New Caledonia. Originally recorded from Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and the Philippines.Etymology
Named in honour of Johan Bas, an underwater photographer and naturalist based in Nouméa, New Caledonia, in appreciation of the numerous specimens he collected for this and other studies.Remarks
A sacoglossan that retains functional chloroplasts within its body for photosynthesis. Previously treated as colour variants or unidentified individuals of Cyerce elegans, this lineage was distinguished as an independent species through molecular phylogenetic analysis combined with external morphology. The white vein-like striations running across the cerata distinguish it from Cyerce elegans and Cyerce whaapi, the other members of the same species complex.References
- スカシウロコウミウシ, 中野理枝, 今川郁 & 今本淳. (2015). 南西諸島で記録された嚢舌類の報告. Kuroshio Biosphere. 11: 41-60.
- Cyerce elegans, Terrence Gosliner, Ángel Valdés and David Behrens. (2015). Nudibranch and Sea Slug Identification Indo-Pacific. New World Pubns Inc.
- ミヤビウロコウミウシ（新称）, 中野理枝. (2018). 日本のウミウシ. 文一総合出版.
- Cyerce elegans, Terrence Gosliner, Ángel Valdés and David Behrens. (2018). Nudibranch and Sea Slug Identification Indo-Pacific 2nd Edition. New World Pubns Inc.
- Cyerce basi sp. nov., Moreno K., Medrano S., Gosliner T.M., Wilson N.G., Krug P.J. & Valdés Á. (2025). Phylogenetic systematics of the genus Cyerce (Mollusca: Heterobranchia: Sacoglossa: Caliphyllidae) from the Pacific and Indian oceans with descriptions of nine new species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 204(1): zlaf030. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf030
Featured in this book
Terrence Gosliner, Ángel Valdés and David Behrens. (2018). Nudibranch and Sea Slug Identification Indo-Pacific 2nd Edition. New World Pubns Inc.
New World Publications
This species, Cyerce basi, is included in the book.
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Photos of Cyerce basi
Same Genus Nudibranchs
Similar Colors Nudibranchs
Academic Database
Sea slug observation data is available in international marine biodiversity databases.