Re: Bornella stellifer? from Singapore [2]

Dear Chay Hoon,

Thanks very much for the extra photos. I suspect this is an unnamed species which has escaped our notice. Perhaps it is a very extreme form of Bornella hermanni? There seem to be only three pairs of dorso-lateral processes as in that species, while in B. stellifer we would expect five or six. However the dorso-lateral processes are shaped more as in B. hermanni, with one major lobe or papilla, and a number of smaller ones. However the heavy white pigmentation and red reticulate pattern, even on the dorso-lateral processes, are quite different. In this animal the major papilla in each lateral process, and the major papilla on the rhinophore sheaths is contoured with vertical wrinkles which seem present even when the processes are extended. The papillae also have a reddish reticulate pattern, in some cases the red extending into larger patches.

The rhinophore sheath is similar to B. hermanni in shape, but again, the red reticulate pattern is quite different. The translucent red of the rhinophores and in some animals the gills as well, is unusual, but it could just be a manifestation of a population with an excess of red pigmentation. I could call this Bornella cf. hermanni, but that might be confusing, so until we can examine specimens anatomically I have separated it as Bornella sp. 2.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman