Re: Flabellina gracilis? from New York
August 29, 1999
From: Terry Gosliner
Dear Bill,
I am pretty certain that the specimens that Betsey photographed and that you tentatively identified as Flabellina gracilis are indeed that species.
The main external characteristics for differentiating it from F. verrucosa is that the cerata are more distinctly arranged in rows in F. gracilis and there is a more prominent vestige of a notal brim in F. gracilis. Also F. gracilis has a sort of notched head between the junction of the oral tentacles and more elongate anterior margins of the foot. It is a bit difficult to see all these details in Betsey's photos, but I think that is what she has. Also she mentions that these animals were smaller than F. verrucosa, which is the case.
Alan Kuzirian's review of those species (I think that it was published in J. Moll. Stud. in about 1979) really clarified much of this historical confusion.
Terry
tgosline@calacademy.org
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