Volvatella angeliniana M. Ichikawa, 1993

Description

Reaches 25 mm in body length. The soft body is creamy white covered with many tiny white spots, and can be withdrawn completely into the shell. The anterior corners of the head are extended into labial tentacles, with a pair of short bright-orange rhinophores on their dorsal sides. Eyes are clearly seen behind the rhinophore bases. The foot is very short and triangular, not extending posteriorly beyond the shell aperture. The ovoid shell, 2 mm long, has two orange bands (one on the anterior margin, one on the spout), with the rest of the shell scattered with round white spots over a milky white ground matching the soft body.

Distribution

Type locality: vicinity of Sesoko Marine Science Center, Sesoko Island, Okinawa, 2-3 m depth, on Caulerpa racemosa. Based on the holotype (NHMW 85994) only.

Etymology

The specific epithet angeliniana is a feminine adjectival eponym built on the personal-name stem Angelin- with the suffix -iana, but the original description does not specify the person honoured.

Remarks

Body colouration resembles V. ficula, but in that species the rhinophores are white and there are no white spots on the shell. Distinguished from V. evansi by the position of the eyes, shape of the shell and head, and overall colour pattern.

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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
• アカミミブドウギヌ, 奥谷喬司. (2000). 日本近海産貝類図鑑. 東海大学出版会.