Re: Flabellina? from Norway

April 30, 2003
From: Jussi Evertsen

Dear Bill,
In response to Kåre's recent message, here is a scan of the original illustrations by M. Sars (1829) of Eolidia verrucosa [Plate 2, figs 1-4].

You will see that Kåre's photos very much match the original descriptions of Flabellina verrucosa; except the arrangement of the cerata which more resembles Odhner's Flabellina borealis. But Kåre's photos are Flabellina verrucosa with short cerata. The problem is that Flabellina verrucosa has a long list of synonyms, which include individuals with long and slender cerata, and in most cases it is the animals with long cerata that are illustrated on the net (as in Coryphella rufibranchialis).

Also one should be aware of Bernard Picton's Flabellina browni, which really is similar to Flabellina verrucosa with long and slender cerata, but which is differentiated on the coloration.

Confusing? It really is, and I think this group is in need of a careful revision.

• Sars, Michael. 1829. Bidrag til soedyrene naturhistorie, Pt. 1,: pp. 1-59, pls. 1-6. Bergen.

Jussi Evertsen

jussi.evertsen@vm.ntnu.no

Thanks Jussi,
I am glad to see I am not the only one confused. Certainly Kåre's photos look like Sar's illustration of Flabellina verrucosa. Alan Kuzirian (1979) has an interesting review of the long-running dispute over the question of whether Eolidia verrucosa Sars, 1829, with short crowded cerata, and Eolis rufibranchialis Johnson, 1832, with longer fewer cerata, are synonyms or not. On top of this basic question are all the later names that have been given to this species or pair of species on both sides of the Nth Atlantic. I agree that step 1 must be for someone to study the anatomy and natural history of these two 'forms' in depth, as Kuzirian did with the Nth American Atlantic species of Flabellina.

One anatomical point which seems worth following up is the shape of the anterior foot corners. In both Sars' painting and Kåre's photo the anterior corners of the foot are rounded. Although none of the photos in the Forum of the long cerata form show the anterior foot clearly, there are plenty of illustrations in the literature showing that it has distinctly angular or even tentacular foot corners [Thompson & Brown, 1984]. To me the ceratal shape and arrangement and the anterior foot corners are pretty good arguments for some separating them.

• Kuzirian, A.M. (1979) Taxonomy and biology of four New England coryphellid nudibranchs. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 45: 239-261.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Apr 30). Comment on Re: Flabellina? from Norway by Jussi Evertsen. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9797

Factsheet

Flabellina verrucosa

Related messages

  1. Re: Flabellina verrucosa from British Columbia
    From: Jackie Hildering & Glen Miller, November 5, 2007
  2. Flabellina verrucosa in West Puget Sound
    From: Dave Washburn, September 15, 2007
  3. Flabellina verrucosa from Massachusetts
    From: Charlotte Richardson, August 18, 2007
  4. Flabellina verrucosa egg masses
    From: Jackie Hildering, March 26, 2007
  5. Flabellina verrucosa - odd food choice?
    From: Alan Shepard, April 18, 2005
  6. Flabellina verrucosa from British Columbia
    From: Bruce Wight, October 24, 2003
  7. Flabellina verrucosa from British Columbia
    From: Marli Wakeling, July 2, 2003
  8. Flabellina verrucosa from British Colunbia
    From: Marli Wakeling, June 27, 2003
  9. Flabellina verrucosa with short cerata
    From: Robert Eriksson, May 13, 2003
  10. Re: Flabellina? from Norway
    From: Kåre Telnes, April 30, 2003
  11. Flabellina? from Norway
    From: Kåre Telnes, April 25, 2003
  12. Flabellina verrucosa from Massachusetts, USA
    From: Alan Shepard, February 4, 2003
  13. Re: Flabellina verrucosa from British Columbia
    From: Marli Wakeling, July 25, 2002
  14. Flabellina verrucosa from British Columbia
    From: Wendy Atkinson, July 19, 2002
  15. Re: Cuthona punicea
    From: Sandra Millen, June 25, 2002
  16. Flabellina verrucosa from Massachusetts
    From: Paul Young, June 22, 2002
  17. Flabellina verrucosa with hydroids from Canada
    From: Marli Wakeling, April 6, 2002
  18. Flabellina verrucosa from British Columbia
    From: Marli Wakeling, March 23, 2002
  19. Flabellina verrucosa - photo of tail
    From: Bernard Picton , July 22, 2001
  20. Flabellina verrucosa from New England
    From: Paul Young, June 20, 2001
  21. Re: Flabellina verrucosa feeding on scyphistomae
    From: Bill Rudman, February 16, 2001
  22. Re: An aeolid from Massachusetts
    From: Chad Sisson, February 15, 2001
  23. Re: An aeolid from Massachusetts
    From: Alan Shepard, February 13, 2001
  24. Re: An aeolid from Massachusetts
    From: Chad Sisson, February 13, 2001
  25. Re: aeolids from Massachusetts
    From: Terry Gosliner, February 13, 2001
  26. An aeolid from Massachusetts
    From: Alan Shepard, February 10, 2001
  27. Flabellina verrucosa from Canada
    From: Marli Wakeling, December 20, 2000
  28. Brown form of Flabellina verrucosa
    From: Betsey Hansen, August 31, 1999
  29. Flabellina verrucosa from Maine
    From: Betsey Hansen, August 31, 1999
  30. Re: Flabellina verrucosa? from New York
    From: Terry Gosliner, August 29, 1999
  31. Flabellina verrucosa? off Long Island, NY
    From: Betsey Hansen, August 27, 1999

Show factsheet and all related messages