Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by MILLER, M.C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by MILLER, M.C.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

J. Moll. Stud. (2001), 67, 491-499
© The Malacological Society of London 2001

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DORID NUDIBRANCHS POLYCERA HEDGPETHI MARCUS, 1964 AND P. FUJITAI BABA, 1937 IN NEW ZEALAND (GASTROPODA: OPISTHOBRANCHIA)

M.C. MILLER

School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

New Zealand specimens of Polycera hedgpethi Marcus, 1964 and P. fujitai Baba, 1937 are described formally and in detail for the first time. Both species are easily recognised from previous descriptions. Five polycerid species are known now from New Zealand waters. The largest New Zealand specimen of P. hedgpethi collected so far is only two-thirds of the size of the type. This size difference may account for some of the differences noted, e.g., number of rows of radular teeth. New Zealand specimens differ from the original description in lacking yellow pigment on the notal ridge, tail crest and upper border of the foot, and in possessing a wider foot, a subterminal band of orange brown pigment on the extra-branchial processes, and opaque and crystalline white scattered on the body and appendages. Subsequent description shows close similarity except in two cases, in one the grey/black pigment is flecked not spotted, the jaws are rounded not angular and allosperm and vaginal ducts join before reaching the spermatheca, in the other the primary colour is dark brown, there is no white pigmentation and the jaws are rounded. Polycera hedgpethi is compared with three very similar species, P. hummi Abbott, 1952, P. aurisula Marcus, 1956 and P. gnupa Marcus & Marcus, 1967: it is distinguished from them by the dense grey/black spotting and lack of blue pigment on the notal appendages. Polycera gnupa is believed by some to be synonymous with P. hedgpethi. Here P. gnupa is maintained as a distinct species in having brown as the basic colour, cylindrical extrabranchial processes and unipinnate gills. The New Zealand specimens of Polycera fujitai agree well in colour and form with the original description except that they differ in basic colour in being dull orange not brown or yellowish brown. There are differences in colouring between the local and Hong Kong specimens, the former having grey and orange as the foundation of the pattern, a blue tinge to the rhinophores and the opaque yellow widespread.

(Received 26 June 2000; accepted 10 May 2001)


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.