Aeolidiopsis australis?

August 6, 2002
From: Nishina Masayoshi

Dear Bill,
I found a name Aeolidiopsis australis Rudman, 1982; Gosliner, 1985. Is this a valid species? If so, do you have any photo or illustration of this animal?
Best Regards,
Nishina Masayoshi

nishina@wips.co.jp

Dear Nishina,
I described a new species Spurilla australis in 1982. In 1985, Terry Gosliner considered it was more appropriately placed in the genus Berghia, a genus which I had considered to be a synonym of Spurilla. In a recent review, Michael Miller (2001) considers it should belong in the genus Baeolidia. So in its reasonably short life, this species has been called Spurilla australis, Berghia australis and now Baeolidia australis. This is part of the on-going debate that occurs as we try and understand the evolutionary history and relationships of animals. In most cases, names are very stable, but in others cases, such as the Aeolidiidae, I suspect the debate has still a way to go.

• Gosliner, T.M. (1985) The aeolid nudibranch family Aeolidiidae (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) from tropical southern Africa. Annals of the South African Museum, 95(6): 233-267.
• Miller, M.C. (2001) Aeolid nudibranchs (gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) of the family Aeolidiidae from New Zealand waters. Journal of Natural History, 35: 629-662.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Aug 6). Comment on Aeolidiopsis australis? by Nishina Masayoshi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7692

Factsheet

Spurilla australis

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