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/16581Dear 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
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