Polycera janjukia Burn, 1962

Description

A small polycerid reaching about 8 mm alive (5 mm in spirits). Six (or seven) simple velar processes, irregular in size and shape. The pallial margin and the upper edge of the foot each carry a single row of raised coloured spots. Rhinophores immense relative to the body — about 3 mm long, with 12-15 laminae, terminating in a small cylindrical cap. Branchiae five, contractile, bipinnate, the anterior three larger than the posterior two; the anus opens between the rear two plumes. Oral tentacles reduced to indistinct head lobes. Foot very narrow and attenuated into a long tail. Body bright pink, sparsely covered with medium ochraceous spots; pallial and foot margin spots ochraceous, rhinophores and gills dirty yellow.

Distribution

Southeast Australia. The type locality is Torquay, Victoria, on the underside of a low-tide stone (April 1958).

Etymology

The specific epithet janjukia alludes to the Jan Juc Creek which enters the sea just south of Torquay township, Victoria — the type locality.

Remarks

Originally described in Burn's "Descriptions of Victorian nudibranchiate Mollusca, with a comprehensive review of the Eolidacea" (Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 25: 99, 1962). A congener of Polycera parvula (Burn, 1958) (originally described in Palio), which Burn distinguished by its persistent maroon body colour and two velar processes versus six or seven in P. janjukia.

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References

• Polycera janjukia, Burn R. (1962). Descriptions of Victorian nudibranchiate Mollusca, with a comprehensive review of the Eolidacea. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, 25: 95-128, text figs. 1-26. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/120188