Elysia minima M. Ichikawa, 1993

Description

Holotype 3 mm. The general body colour is yellowish-green. The area between the mouth and the rhinophores and the inner sides of the rhinophores are black or dark blue, whereas the rest of the head and other parts of the rhinophores are covered by a thick, white crust that forms a cross-shaped figure. The triangular parapodia are small, and their margins are also partially coated with a white crust. No dorsal vessels are visible.

Distribution

Type locality: Kuro Island (Okinawa, near Iriomote). Material from Nakamoto Beach and near the Kuroshima Marine Center; holotype NHMW 86004.

Etymology

The specific epithet minima is the Latin superlative "smallest", in reference to the small body size.

Remarks

The characteristic white cross-shaped mark on the head and white patches on the parapodial margin recall E. tuca, but E. tuca has papillae, black spots and a black metapodial margin, none of which is present in E. minima. Dorsal vessels are invisible in this species, distinguishing it from both E. tuca and E. chitwa; E. chitwa also bears red dots on the dorsum, absent here.

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References

• Ichikawa M. (1993). Saccoglossa (Opisthobranchia) from the Ryukyu Islands. Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory. 36(3): 119-139. https://doi.org/10.5134/176229