Thuridilla mazda from the Bahamas
July 25, 2002
From: Colin Redfern
Dear Bill,
This is a photo of Thuridilla mazda Ortea & Espinosa, 2000 from the Bahamas. The 7mm specimen was collected June 23, 1995 from algae-covered shoreline rocks in 0.3m near Cooperstown, Abaco, Bahamas. Ortea & Espinosa (2000) compared this species to Thuridilla picta (Verrill, 1901), finding differences in the radula, and also pointing out that the rhinophores of T. mazda are shorter, and with a wider base than the more cylindrical rhinophores of T. picta. The two species share similar colors, but in different combinations. The rhinophore colour of T. mazda, black on the anterior side and white on the rear, is also different. Animals from Cuba and the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica were described as having a black background color, but those from Abaco are predominantly dark brown. This species was figured in Bahamian Seashells (pl. 116, figs. 676A & B) as Thuridilla picta.
Reference:
• Ortea, J. & Espinosa, J. 2000. Nueva especie del genero Thuridilla Bergh, 1872 (Mollusca: Sacoglossa) de Cuba y Costa Rica. Avicennia, 12/13: 87-90.
Best wishes,
Colin Redfern
bahamianseashells@att.net
Redfern, C., 2002 (Jul 25) Thuridilla mazda from the Bahamas. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7638Thanks Colin,
Bill Rudman
