Berthella ocellata from Cyprus

May 11, 2006
From: Vasilis Athanasopoulos

Hi Bill,

If this is a Berthella ocellata, then I guess the 'Distribution' info on the main page of this species should be changed to include Easter Mediterranean too, since I found this species in Cyprus. I think that the opaque white rings, visible around the edge of the translucent clear spots, are characteristic. Am I right/wrong?

Locality: Protaras, 10m, Cyprus, Mediterranean, 02 April 2006, algae covered rocks. Length: 7-8cm. Photographer: Vasilis Athanasopoulos.

Thank you
Vasilis

biotechmail@gmail.com

Athanasopoulos, V., 2006 (May 11) Berthella ocellata from Cyprus. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16581

Dear Vasilis,
Yes this is Berthella ocellata. The name of this species comes from the latin ocellus meaning a 'little eye' usually formed by a ring or rings of different colours. So yes the white rings are indicative of the species. However sometimes the rings are absent and only the colorless rounded tubercle in the middle remains.

I am pretty sure Berthella ocellata has not been recorded in the eastern Mediterranean but sometimes records are published in local publications without a wide distribution, and so difficult to find. I am sure however that someone will tell us if  B. ocellata if I have missed an earlier record. It would be surprising if it did not occur in the eastern Mediterranean but it is always good to get confirm these things.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (May 11). Comment on Berthella ocellata from Cyprus by Vasilis Athanasopoulos. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16581

Factsheet

Berthella ocellata

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