Calma gobioophaga - a new fish egg predator

October 27, 2002
From: Gonçalo Calado

Dear Bill
The description of a new species of the genus Calma has just been published. Calma glaucoides (Alder & Hancock, 1854) and Calma gobioophaga Calado & Urgorri, 2002 differ consistently in some morphological characters, such as body length and width - C. glaucoides is wider and longer. In the position of the kidney - between the 2nd and the 6th (rarely 5th or 7th) ceratal group in C. glaucoides and between the 2nd and the last ceratal group in C. gobioophaga. In the size and position of the eyes - 80 µm, behind the rhinophores, in the space between these and the first group of cerata in C. glaucoides and 110 µm immediately behind the rhinophores or in its rear border in C. gobioophaga. And in the form and size of the propodial tentacles - small and acute in C. glaucoides and large and finger-like in C. gobioophaga.

Nevertheless, the most important difference is ecological. At least during non-larval life, both species occupy different ecological niches. Whereas Calma gobioophaga feeds on spawn of Gobius niger, Calma glaucoides feeds on eggs of Lepadogaster lepadogaster, Lepadogaster purpurea, Lepadogaster candollei, Parablennius gattorugine and Parablennius pilicornis.

Reference:
Calado, G. & V. Urgorri, 2002 A new species of Calma Alder & Hancock, 1855 (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with a review of the genus. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 68: 311-317.

Best wishes,
Gonçalo

bagoncas@mail.telepac.pt

Calado, G., 2002 (Oct 27) Calma gobioophaga - a new fish egg predator. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8268

Copyright © Australian Museum, 1998-2010