Jorunna alisonae
Marcus, 1976
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: EUDORIDOIDEA
Family: Dorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Known only from Hawaii
PHOTO
Maro Reef, Northwest Hawaiian Islands. on dead coral head, 10 meters. Length: 25mm. 14 Sept. 2002. Photo: Keoki Stender
Mantle covered in small spiculate tubercles [caryophyllidia], giving the mantle a 'furry' appearance. Colour translucent yellowish brown with darker brown patches. Previously identified by Kay & Young (1969) with the European Jorunna tomentosa. Marcus (1976) in a revision of the genus recognised this species from Hawaii as a new species which she named Jorunna alisonae noting that it differed from J. tomentosa in having jaw rodlets, and in relatively minor differences to the genital armature. It is possible that this species is a widespread Indo-West Pacific species and so may have an earlier name. Further studies on this genus are needed to clarify the nonemclature.
References:
• Kay, E.A. & Young, D.K. (1969) The Doridacea (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science, 23(2): 172-231. [as Jorunna tomentosa.]
• Marcus, Ev. (1976) On Kentrodoris and Jorunna (Gastropoda Opisthobranchia). Boletim de Zoologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo, 1: 11-68.
Rudman, W.B., 2003 (November 11) Jorunna alisonae Marcus, 1976. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/jorualis
