Tenellia pupillae (Baba, 1961)
Description
A small species, always 3–5 mm in total length. The general body colour is translucent whitish, densely sprinkled with opaque white dots over the head and back. Cephalic tentacles and rhinophores are smooth, the rhinophores slightly longer, both marked near the middle with an orange-yellow band. Branchial papillae are short and inflated-fusiform, arranged in 4–6 simple oblique rows on each side, the largest rows containing 3–4 papillae; the foremost two rows belong to the right liver (and its left partner). The genital orifice lies below the first row on the right side, the anus in front of the third row on the same side, with the nephroproct closely preanal. Each branchial papilla bears an opaque white cap and a band of the same colour running down to the tip; the liver diverticulum within is dark brown. Foot-corners are rounded.Distribution
Type locality: Tannowa, Osaka Bay, shallow water (March 1951 and 1952, 4 specimens, coll. by Mr. Hamatani); Kada, Osaka Bay (March 1957, 2 specimens, coll. by Mr. Hamatani). Additional records from Mukaishima (Inland Sea of Seto), Nou and Awashima (Niigata Pref.), Toyama Bay and Tsuruga Bay; reported as not rare at the time of the original description.Etymology
From the Latin pupilla (a small cocoon or chrysalis), in the genitive singular. The name evokes the minute, fusiform branchial papillae and is consistent with the Japanese vernacular "Komayu-minoumiushi" ("small-cocoon mino"), coined by Baba in the same paper.Remarks
Originally described as Catriona pupillae Baba, 1961, subsequently combined with Trinchesia, and currently placed in the genus Tenellia. Baba noted an affinity with Catriona susa E. & E. Marcus, 1959 from the Red Sea in the arrangement of the branchial papillae.References
- Catriona pupillae BABA, n. sp. Komayu-minoumiushi (n. n.), Baba K. (1961). THREE NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS CATRIONA FROM JAPAN (NUDIBRANCHIA-EOLIDACEA). Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory. 9(2): 367-372. https://doi.org/10.5134/175287
- 高岡生物研究会. (2002). 日本海のウミウシ. 第2版.
- コマユミノウミウシ, 中野理枝. (2004). 本州のウミウシ. ラトルズ.
- ミノウミウシ亜目の一種1, 小野篤司. (2004). 沖縄のウミウシ. ラトルズ.
- Cuthona pupillae, Terrence Gosliner, Ángel Valdés and David Behrens. (2015). Nudibranch and Sea Slug Identification Indo-Pacific. New World Pubns Inc.
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, Tenellia pupillae, is included in the book.
View on Amazon PR (Amazon Associates)Seasonality
Shooting Locations
Loading shooting locations...
Photos of Tenellia pupillae
Same Genus Nudibranchs
Similar Colors Nudibranchs
Academic Database
Sea slug observation data is available in international marine biodiversity databases.