Thuridilla mazda
Ortea & Espinosa, 2000

Order: SACOGLOSSA
Superfamily: ELYSIOIDEA
Family: Elysiidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known only from the Caribbean

PHOTO

7mm specimen was collected June 23, 1995 from algae-covered shoreline rocks in 0.3m near Cooperstown, Abaco, Bahamas. Photo: Colon Redfern.

Ortea & Espinosa (2000) compared this species to Thuridilla picta (Verrill, 1901), finding differences in the radula, and also pointing out that the rhinophores of T. mazda are shorter, and with a wider base than the more cylindrical rhinophores of T. picta. The two species share similar colors, but in different combinations. The rhinophore colour of T. mazda, black on the anterior side and white on the rear, is also different. Animals from Cuba and the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica were described as having a black background color, but those from Abaco are predominantly dark brown. This species was figured in Bahamian Seashells (pl. 116, figs. 676A & B) as Thuridilla picta.

Reference:
• Ortea, J. & Espinosa, J. 2000. Nueva especie del genero Thuridilla Bergh, 1872 (Mollusca: Sacoglossa) de Cuba y Costa Rica. Avicennia, 12/13: 87-90.

Colin Redfern

Authorship details
Redfern, C., 2002 (July 23) Thuridilla mazda Ortea & Espinosa, 2000. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/thurmazd

Related messages


Thuridilla mazda from the Bahamas

July 25, 2002
From: Colin Redfern

Dear Bill,
This is a photo of Thuridilla mazda Ortea & Espinosa, 2000 from the Bahamas. The 7mm specimen was collected June 23, 1995 from algae-covered shoreline rocks in 0.3m near Cooperstown, Abaco, Bahamas. Ortea & Espinosa (2000) compared this species to Thuridilla picta (Verrill, 1901), finding differences in the radula, and also pointing out that the rhinophores of T. mazda are shorter, and with a wider base than the more cylindrical rhinophores of T. picta. The two species share similar colors, but in different combinations. The rhinophore colour of T. mazda, black on the anterior side and white on the rear, is also different. Animals from Cuba and the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica were described as having a black background color, but those from Abaco are predominantly dark brown. This species was figured in Bahamian Seashells (pl. 116, figs. 676A & B) as Thuridilla picta.

Reference:
• Ortea, J. & Espinosa, J. 2000. Nueva especie del genero Thuridilla Bergh, 1872 (Mollusca: Sacoglossa) de Cuba y Costa Rica. Avicennia, 12/13: 87-90.

Best wishes,
Colin Redfern

bahamianseashells@att.net

Redfern, C., 2002 (Jul 25) Thuridilla mazda from the Bahamas. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7638

Thanks Colin,
Bill Rudman