Sakuraeolis enosimensis (Baba, 1930)

アカエラミノウミウシ Sakuraeolis enosimensis

Location
Wannai, Osezaki, Shizuoka, Japan
Date
2014/02/13
Length
15mm
Depth
5.0m
Water temperature
14.1℃

Description

The original description is based on a single living specimen, 27 mm in length, from Enosima (Enoshima), Sagami Bay. The antero-lateral angles of the head are not produced; the oral tentacles and rhinophores are smooth, slender and nearly equal in length. Branchial papillae are arranged in 3 groups on each side: about 40 in the first, 25 in the second and 20 in the third group, each group seated on a horseshoe-shaped base. The anus opens at the centre of the second group, and the genital opening at the antero-lateral base of the second branchial group on the right side. The anterior margin of the foot is grooved transversely, with a median notch in the upper lip.

Head and anterior margin of foot orange-yellow; oral tentacles and rhinophores the same colour as the head, with white tips. The rest of the body is translucent white, but the visceral organs show a dull orange-yellow through the skin. The branchial papillae are veined with reddish brown, and the entire dorsal surface (including papillae and rhinophores) is spotted with white. Later records show ground colour ranging from translucent yellow to orange-red, with body length up to 45 mm.

Distribution

Type locality: Enosima (Enoshima), Sagami Bay (Kanagawa Pref., Japan). Subsequently recorded from Mutsu Bay, Sagami Bay, Suruga Bay, Shima, Seto (Kii), Osaka Bay, the Inland Sea of Seto, Saeki Bay, and Amakusa on the Pacific coast, and from Sado and Toyama Bay on the Japan Sea side.

Etymology

The specific epithet enosimensis is a toponymic adjective derived from the type locality (Enoshima, Sagami Bay).

Remarks

The original description compared this single specimen with Rizzolia modesta (also from Enoshima) and noted that the two agree in jaws, radula and horseshoe-shaped branchial-group bases, but differ in the number of branchial groups and the colour pattern of the papillae. The genus Sakuraeolis was later erected with this species as its type.

References

A Kindle field guide by the site author

Kimoto N. (2026). Sea Slugs of Japan & the Indo-Pacific, 2nd Edition. cover

Kimoto N. (2026). Sea Slugs of Japan & the Indo-Pacific, 2nd Edition.

Kindle Edition

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Academic Database

Sea slug observation data is available in international marine biodiversity databases.

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