The Genus Paradoris Bergh, 1884 (Nudibranchia : discodorididae) in the tropical Americas, and South Africa with the description of a new species

2007·8.2 MB·English

by  Terrence M Gosliner

THE VELIGER
TheVeliger49(3):105-119 (October 1, 2007) C' CMS, Inc., 2006
The Genus Paradoris Bergh, 1884 (Nudibranchia: Discodorididae) in the
Tropical Americas, and South Africa with the Description ofa New Species
YOLANDA CAMACHO-GARCIA' and TERRENCE M. GOSLINER-
' Museo de Zoologia, Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Monies de Oca,
San Jose, Costa Rica
(e-mail: [email protected])
-Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology, California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street,
San Francisco, California 94103, USA
(e-mail; [email protected])
Abstract. A newspecies of^ParadorisBergh, 1884, P. caeruleussp. nov. is described based on specimenscollected
from South Africa. The coloration, radular morphology, and details ofthe reproductive system ofthis species differ
significantly from other previously described Paradoris species by having a blue body with gray-blue spots and a few
black spots on the dorsum, as well as an accessory gland with two stylets in each sac. A redescription ofP. nmlciher
and P. lopezi is based on newly collected material ofthese species from the Caribbean coast ofCosta Rica and the
Galapagos Islands. The range ofP. lopezi is extended, from Mexico to the Galapagos Islands.
INTRODUCTION synonymized most recently with Paradoris dubia
A taxonomic revision of Paradoris Bergh, 1884, (Bergh, 1904) by Dayrat (2006) based on similarities
recently published by Dayrat (2006) recognizes eight nofewthesrpeepcireosducftriovme sdyesteepm.wVaatledresso(f200N1e)wdesCcarliebdeodntiwao:
species from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indo-Pacific
Paradoris araneosa and Paradoris imperfecta; the latter
oceans: P. indecora (Bergh, 1881); P. dubia (Bergh, was synonymized with the former by Dayrat (2006).
1904); P. liturata, (Bergh, 1905); P. erythraeensis &
Finally, Hermosillo Valdes (2004) described Para-
(Vayssiere, 1912); P. mulciber (Marcus, 1970); P. doris lopezi, a new species from Mexico.
Pt.surluogpeenzsiisHeBramboas,il1l9o86;&P.Vaalrdaense,os2a00V4a.ldeAsc,co2r0d0i1;ngantdo frPoamratdhoeristypmeulcmiabteerri(alMardceussc,rib1e9d70)friosmknBroawzinl oannldy
Dayrat (2006), Paradoris is characterized by the redescribed by Dayrat (2006). This species and Para-
following combination of characters: labial armature doris lopeziHermosillo &Valdes, 2004 are the only two
with three jaw plates, radula elongated and narrow, members of the genus Paradoris reported from the
grooved outeredge ofthe hook ofthe lateral teeth, and Americas. The present paper redescribes these species
grooved oral tentacles. on the basis of several new specimens collected from
The first reference to Paradoris in the Western the Caribbean coast ofCosta Rica and the Galapagos
Atlantic Ocean was the description of Paradoris Islands, Ecuador, respectively. We also describe one
mulciber from Brazil (Marcus, 1970), originally de- new species from South Africa.
scribed as the type species of the new genus Percunas
Marcus, 1970. Later, Marcus (1976) synonymized MATERIALS AND METHODS
Percunas with Paradoris. Ortea (1995) revised the
species of the genus from the Canary Islands. Accord- The material studied is deposited at the Zoology
ing to this author, there were four species in this area, Museum of the University of Costa Rica, the De-
however Dayrat (2006) synonymized three of these partment of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology of the
species with P. indecora, based on individual variation. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, USA
This author, as well as Ortea (1995), also concluded (CASIZ), and the Natural History Museum of Los
that Paradoris granulata Bergh, 1884, the type species Angeles County (LACM).
ofthe genus, is ajuniorsynonym ofDi.scodoris indecora Specimenswerepreservedin 70% ethanol. They were
Bergh, 1881. dissected by dorsal incision, and their reproductive
The first reference ofthis genus in the Pacific Ocean systems were examined and drawn under a dissecting
wasthe description ofParadoris tsurugensisfromJapan microscope with camera lucida. At least two specimens
by Baba (1986, 1989). Later, Miller (1995) described of each species were examined anatomically and
Paradoris leuca from New Zealand, which was dissected for this study. The buccal masses were
Page 106 The Veliger, Vol. 49, No. 3
dissected and immersed in sodium hydroxide, rinsed, and branchial leaves. The oral tentacles are fmger-like
and then mounted on stubs for SEM examination. and have a longitudinal groove on their external side.
The accessory gland from the reproductive system The anteriorborder ofthe foot is grooved and notched
was dissected and placed in different concentrations of (Figure 2B). The foot is completely covered by the
alcohol for at least 20 min and then transferred to notum when the animal is in motion.
a solution ofxylol for 20 min. After the tissue became The background color of the dorsum in hving
translucent, the gland was mounted on a cover slide. animals is light brown to pale cream, with numerous
The styletsweredrawn usinga microscopewith camera small dark brown spots (Figure lA) very densely
lucida. arranged on the entire dorsum and at the base of the
tubercles. Each spot itself is composed of an aggrega-
SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS tion of minute brown specks. The apices of large
tubercles are yellowish. The rhinophores and branchial
Genus Parudoris Bergh, 1884 leaves are pale brown with small, dark brown spots
Paradoris nmlcibev (Marcus, 1970) arranged irregularly. The tips of the branchial leaves
are yellowish, and the branchial sheath is undulate. The
(Figures IA, 2, 3, 4) ventral side ofthe animal is cream colored. The sole of
the foot has more dark spots than the hyponotum, but
Type material examined: Holotype: Juriac;u, Maranhao they are smaller (Figure 2B). The same spotting occurs
Province, Brazil 00 04'S, 44 33'W, 6 September 1967, 1 on the ventral surface, foot, and mantle. The tentacles
specimen (previously dissected), 21 mm preserved are covered with brown speckles.
length, leg. Almirante Saldanha R/V (MZSP 41291). Anatomy: The jaw has three distinct pieces with
Other material examined: Ponta de Pedra, Pernanbuco a number ofsimple, regularly arranged elements about
vPiroouvsilnyced,issBercatzeild,),3305 Amumgusprtes1e9r7v0e,d l1ensgpthe,cilmeeg.nM(oprne-- 818\\mxx\minplreensgetrhv(eFdigluernegt3hA)s.pTechiemeranduilsar55forXmu(l1a8.o0f.1a8n)
mm
tonchet (MZSP 41292, # 1045 Marcus Coll.); Manza- (INB001501499) and a 40 preserved length spec-
nillo. Area de Conservacion Amistad Caribe, Sixaola, imen is 47 X (16.0.16) (LACM ACC 4308). In general,
Limon, Costa Rica (9 38'42"N, 82°39'29"W), 20 the teeth are broad and hook-shaped. All the lateral
October 1998, 4 specimens (3 dissected), 27-56 mm teeth, including the outermost, are smooth. They
preserved length, collected under rocks by SCUBA, become gradually larger from the innermost to the
9 m depth, leg. S. Avila (INBOOl501499); Silal de mid-laterals, then become smaller and less angular
Cahuita, Parque Nacional Cahuita, Limon, Costa Rica from the mid-laterals to the outermost. The innermost
(9=44'35"N, 82 48'21"W), 21 September 1999, 2 speci- teeth are thin, pointed, and angular (Figure 3B). The
mm
mens (one dissected) 15-29 preserved length, mid-lateral teeth have a groove on the lower side ofthe
collected under rocks by SCUBA diving, 12.5 m depth, cusp (Figure 3C). The outeiTnost have a prolongation
leg M. Calderon (INBOO1496697). on the upper side ofthe teeth (Figure 3D). There is no
sharp distinction between the base and the cusp in the
Geographic range: This species was previously known outennost tooth.
(fErsopminoBrsaazi&l O(rMtaerac,us2,001)19.70S,om1e97a6d)diatinodnalCosspteaciRmiecnsa leftThoen atmoppulalnad,awnhteircihoristolotnhge faenmdalteubgullaanrd,sisanldocnaetxedt
have been collected from the Caribbean (Vinicius to the bursa copulatrix. The deferent duct is large and
Padula, personal communication).
thin throughout its length (Figure 4A) and leads to
External morphology: Living animals range from 20- a granular and convoluted prostate that is folded upon
60 mm long. The body is oval and elevated, widest in itself. At the distal end, there is an unarmed penis that
the middle region (Figures A, 2A). Themantlemargin is wider than the rest of the duct. The long vagina
1
is wide, undulating, and spiculose. The dorsum is connects to two accessory glands and three muscular
covered with rounded, widely spaced tubercles of sacs containing one stylet each (Figure 4B). Two ofthe
various sizes. The largest ones are generally situated sacs are located on the dorsal side and one onmthme
in the middle region of the notum (Figure 2A), and ventral side ofthe vagina. Each stylet is about 0.6
mostofthem areelevated. Some specimens haveoneor in length. Thewhitish bursacopulatrix issemi-spherical
two tubercles located anteriorly and posteriorly on the and thin-walled. From the bursa copulatrix leads
rhinophoral sheath. The rhinophores have 19-21 very another thin duct that connects to the oval seminal
thin lamellae. The rhinophoral and branchial sheaths receptacle and the uterine duct.
are undulate. The gill consists of six tripinnate
branchial leaves. Other specimens examined have Remarks: Paniduyisnnilciher(Marcus, 1970) is the only
around the same number oflamellaein the rhinophores species of the genus Paradoris reported from the
Y. Camacho-Garcia & T. M. Gosliner, 2006 Page 107
Figure 1. Living animals of Panidoris. A. Panidoris niulciher. Costa Rica (INB001501499) photo by Y. Camacho-Garcia. B.
Purculoris ccwndeiis sp. nov.. South Africa (CASIZ 073954) photo by T.M. Gosliner. C. Living animal of Paradoris lopezi.
Galapagos Islands(LACM 71-45) photograph by D.K. MuUiner. D. Dorsal viewofapreservedanimaloiParadorislopezi(CASIZ
105978) photograph by M. Zuiiiga. E. Ventral view ofa preserved animal ofParadoris lopezi(CASIZ 105978) photograph by M.
Ziifiiga. Note: In fig. ID, E, the blue color on the pictures is due to an accidental stain ofthe specimen with methylene blue.
Page 108 The Veliger, Vol. 49, No. 3
Figure2A. Dorsalviewofapreservedanimal ofPciradorismukiberfrom Limon,Caribbeancoast ofCosta Rica(INBOOl501499).
B. Ventral view; scale bar = 5 mm.
Atlanticcoast ofthe Americas. Theoriginal description A drawing ofthe reproductive system ofa specimen
of this species (in the genus Perciinas) was a brief from the Caribbean made by Vinicius Padula (un-
description, later expanded by Marcus (1976). The published data) consistently shows the presence oftwo
specimens exaiiiined here are identical to those de- accessory glands and three stylets. Also, the ampulla
scribed by Marcus (1970, 1976), and there is no has a U-shaped form and a long and convoluted
detectable variation among the specimens. The only prostate folded upon itself that is also present in the
differences between Marcus's descriptions and ours three specimens we dissected from Costa Rica. The
(also pointed out by Dayrat, 2006) are that the prostate only difference found in the reproductive system ofthe
is larger in the original description than that found in specimen from the Caribbean that differs from ours
the present material, the branchial sheath of our and that of Marcus (1976) is that the duct that leads
specimens has several undulations rather than being from the seminal receptacle joins the duct from the
smoothasin Marcus'sdescription, and the rhinophoral vagina before it enters into the bursa copulatrix.
sheaths in some specimens examined here have one or Ortea (1995) stated that P. indecora is possibly an
two tubercles on each side. amphiatlantic species and that P. mulciber is a junior
Y. Camacho-Garcia & T. M. Gosliner, 2006 Page 109
Figure3. ScanningelectronmicrographsofFaradorisinulciher{IN'B00150\499).A.Jawelements,scalebar = 25 i^m.B.Innermost
radularteeth, scale bar = 75 |am; C. Mid-lateral radular teeth; scale bar = 75 |,tm. D. Outermost radular teeth scale bar = 75 |j.m.
synonym ofP. indecora. Dayrat (2006) concluded that differences, and considering the geographical range of
"the differences between nndciber and indecora are the species, Dayrat agreed to keep these species as two
shght" and that mulciber and indecora cannot be valid species. Based on the new specimens we examined
distinguished from each other. Despite these shght from Costa Rica, we conclude that these two species
Page 110 The Veliger, Vol. 49, No. 3
Figure4A. Reproductive system o'i Paniduviaiiiiilcibcr (1NB00I501499), scale bar = 18 mm. B. Detail ofthe reproductive system
(INB001501499), scale bar = 23 mm; Abbreviations: ag = accessory gland, am = ampulla, be = bursa copulatrix. dd = deferent
duct, fg = female gland, pr = prostate, s = stylet, sr = seminal receptacle, st = stylet sac. v = vagina.
are distinct (Table 1) based on several anatomical Fernandina, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, 16 Septem-
differences. For example, in these specimens, and that ber 1974, 3 specimens (dissected for this study) 26-
mm
which V. Padula examined from the Caribbean, there 61 preserved length, collected in the intertidal
are consistently two accessory glands with three stylets. rocky shoreunder rocks, leg. G. H. Wellington (CASIZ
Panuloris indecora has only one accessory gland and 105978); Darwin Research Station, Academy Bay,
a maximuiTi of three stylets (Dayrat, 2006). Also, P. Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
indecorct has fewer, smaller tubercles arranged in two (0"45'06"S, 90 15'38"W), March 1971, 1 specimen,
mm m
mid-dorsal lines (see description by Valdes, 2002, and 25 preserved length, collected between 1-3.3
Ortea, 1995:fig. 2) while those ofP. nni/ciher are larger, depth, leg. Ameripagos Expedition (LACM 71-45).
more numerous, and more evenly distributed over the
entire dorsum (Figure 2). Geographicrange: This speciesisknown only from Baja
California Sur and Bahia Banderas, Mexico, and the
Paradoris lopezi Hermosillo & Valdes, 2004 Galapagos Islands (present study).
(Figures IC-E, 5A, B, 6A-D, 7A, B) External morphology: The dorsum is covered with
numerous, seinispherical tubercles of different sizes
Type material examined: Holotype: Punta de Pichilin- arranged regularly (Figures IC, 5A). Generally, the
gue, Baja California Sur, La Paz, Mexico. (24 2r25"N, largest tubercles are located near the center. There are
105''33'88"W), 31 October 2004, 1 specimen (previously no tubercles located on the rhinophoral or branchial
dissected), 32 mm preserved length, collected under sheaths in any ofthespecimens. Thegill iscomposedof
coral rubble at 1 m depth, leg. A. Hermosillo (CASIZ six tripinnate branchial leaves,mamnd the rhinophores
171661). have 18-20 lamellae in a 36 preserved length
specimen (CASIZ 105978). An SEM of the notum
Other material examined: Punta Espinosa, Isla Fernan- (not included here)clearlyshowsthepresericeofmantle
dina, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, 16 September 1974, holes. Themargin ofthemantleiswideandundulating.
mm
1 specimen, 71 preserved length, collected in the The anterior border ofthe foot is grooved and notched
intertidal rocky shore under rocks, leg. G. H. (Figure 5B). Theoral tentaclesareconical andgrooved.
Wellington (CASIZ 117625); Punta Espinosa, Isla The background color of the living animals is gray
Y. Camacho-Garcia & T. M. Gosliner, 2006 Page 111
Figure 5A. Dorsal view of a preserved animal of Paradoris lopezi (CASIZ 117625) from Punta Espinosa, Galapagos Islands,
Ecuador. B. Ventral view, scale bar = 5 mm.
with numerous small brownish orange spots arranged foot and are arranged irregularly (Figures IE, 5B).
very densely on the entire dorsum (Figure IC). The The rhinophores are light brown with small darker
gray color is darker towards the middle of the brown spots.
dorsum. The tubercles have a pale gray base and an
osrpaencgiemetnip.haTshereieghatr)e sceovmerpaolseladrgeofblaanckapgagtrcehgeaste(onoef Aan3a5tommmy:prTehseervreaddulleanrgtfhosrpmeucliameins a4n2dX55(X22.(02.62.20).26i)n
small black specks. There are simple black and brown in a 61 mm preserved length specimen. The radula is
spots near the margin of the mantle as well. Opaque very elongated and the labial cuticle has three pieces.
white spots are also present all over the dorsum. The Jaw elements are arranged regularly (Figure 6A)
rachises of the branchial leaves are dark gray with (CASIZ 105978). The innermost teeth are larger, more
small brown spots, the tips being yellowish. The foot angular, and more pointed than the rest (Figure 6B).
is pale gray spotted with brown. The color of the The midlateral teeth are hook-shaped and pointed
ventral side ofthe mantle is pale gray with some dark (Figure 6C). Generally, the teeth have a prolongation
brown spots. These spots are larger than those on the on the upper side that is strongest in the outer teeth.
Page 112 The Veliger, Vol. 49, No. 3
Figure 6. Scanningelectronmicrographs oiParadorislopczi(CASIZ 117625). A. Jaw elements, scale bar = 25 \xm. B. Innermost
radularteeth, scalebar = 75 |am; C. Mid-lateral radularteeth. scale bar = 75 p.m. D. Outermost radularteeth, scale bar = 75 )im.
There is not a sharp distinction between the base and its bifurcation into the oviduct and deferent duct. There
the cusp in the outermost teeth (Figure 6D). is a large and convoluted prostate (Figure 7A). The
The ampulla is long, wider in the middle, and folded deferent duct gradually narrows before ending in
upon itself. It has a long duct located distally. prior to a short, unarmed penial section. The vagina is long
Y. Camacho-Garcia & T. M. Gosliner, 2006 Page 113
B
Figure 7A. Reproductive system ofFaracloris lopezi (CASIZ 117625), scale bar = 18 mm. B. Detail ofthe reproductive system
(CASIZ 117625), scale bar = 23 mm. Abbreviations: ag = accessory glands, am = ampulla, be = bursa copulatrix, dd = deferent
duct, fg = female gland, pr = prostate, s = stylets, sr = seminal receptacle, st = stylet sac, v = vagina.
and connects with two accessory glands and three three specimens from Isla Fernandina, Galapagos. The
muscular sacs, each containing a single stylet about specimendesignatedastheholotypehashighertubercles
mm
0.9 in length. The glands and the sacs are both (about 1.3 mm), and smaller and lighter spots on the
located on the dorsal side (Figure 7B). The bursa hyponotum and notum. On the other hand, the speci-
copulatrix is pale cream, semispherical, and twice the mens from Isla Fernandina have lower tubercles and
size of the seminal receptacle. There is a convoluted bigger and darker spots on the hyponotum and notum.
duct that leads from the bursa copulatrix to the oval ThereareseveralmorphologicaldifferencesbetweenP.
seminal receptacle and to the uterine duct. lopeziand P. mukiber. In P. lopezi, there are long black
patches clearly visible all over the dorsum, and single
Remarks: Dayrat (2006) found some differences in the blackandbrown-orangespotsclosetothemarginofthe
original description of the species when reexamining mantle (Figure IC), whereas no dark pigmentation is
the type material. For example, the oral tentacles were present on the dorsum or mantle in P. mulciber (Figure
grooved (Dayrat, 2006) instead of not grooved 1A). Also, whilethefoot ofParadorismulciberhasmore
(Hermosillo & Valdes, 2004), and there were two butsmallerdarkspotsthanthehyponotum(Figure2B),
accessory glands and three stylet sacs (Dayrat, 2006) P. lopezi has fewer but larger dark spots on both the
instead ofjust one stylet sac and two accessory glands footand hyponotum (Figure IE). Thetubercles present
(Hermosillo & Valdes, 2004). The three specimens we on each side of the rhinophoral sheaths in P. nnilciber
examined from the Galapagos Islands are in complete are not present in any of the specimens examined of
agreement with the description provided by Dayrat P. lopezi. Paradoris indecora (Bergh, 1881) from the
(2006). However, wealso observed somemorphological Mediterranean differs from P. lopezi by the external
differences between the holotype from Mexico and the coloration and the mid-dorsal position ofthe tubercles.
Page 114 The Veliger, Vol. 49, No. 3
Paradoris diibia, described by Bergh (1904), is also spots present around the margins of the notum.
easily distinguished from P. lopeziby the white color of Around the larger and smaller tubercles, there is an
the body with dark brown spots, the translucent color aggregation ofminute white spots that are also present
of the foot, the smooth dorsum, and the lack of along the mantle margins. The branchial leaves and the
accessory glands and stylets. Paradoris tswugensis base of the rhinophores are brownish black in color,
(Baba, 1986. 1989) from Japan differs sHghtly from while the tips ofthe rhinophores are white.
P. lopezi in external morphology and coloration (see The ventral side of preserved specimens is cream.
Hermosillo & Valdes, 2004); for example, P. lopezi has The foot has several brown spots along the external
more stylet sacs (Table 1) but fewer teeth ([42 X margin that are also present on the hyponotum.
[22.0.22]) than P. tsurugensis (90 X [20-25.0.20-25]) in However, there are no spots present on the sole of
specimens ofcomparable size. the foot. The oral tentacles are lightly speckled with
We agree with Dayrat (2006) that the presence of brown.
dark red tubercles on the dorsal notum is probably mm
a good character to distinguish P. lopezi from the rest Anatomy: The radular formula of a 25 long
aorfantehoesa,spePc.ielsitiiorfata,thaendgePn.useryPtahrraadeoenrsiiss,. such as P. aspe2c3immenm ilson5g0 sXpeci(m21e.n0.2i1s) 38(SAXM (2A13.60.02119)) (CaAn-d
SIZ073954). The jaw elements are arranged regularly
Paradoris caeru/eiis, new species in three discrete pieces (Figure 8A). The teeth are
strong, smooth, and slender. The innermost teeth are
(Figures IB, 8, 9) less angular and pointed than in the other species
(Figure 8B). The midlateral teeth are hook-shaped and
Type material: Holotype: Phillips Reef, Algoa Bay, pointed (Figure 8C). The outermost teeth do not have
Indian Ocean coast. Cape Province, South Africa, the prolongation on the upper side or cusp sometimes
Febmrumary 1984, 1 specimen (dissected for this study) present in other species of Paradoris (Figure 8D).
25 preserved length, collected at 10-15 meters The ampulla is short, tubular, and convoluted in the
depth by SCUBA diving, leg. WR. Liltved (SAM middle section, and itbranches into a short oviduct and
A36019); Paratype: Phillips Reef, Algoa Bay, Indian the prostate. The oviduct enters the female gland mass
Ocean coast. Cape Province, South Africa, May 18, distally. The thick and convoluted deferent duct leads
mm
1984, 1 specimen (dissected for this study) 24 to a short and granular prostate (Figure 9B). The
preserved length, leg. WR. Liltved (CASIZ 073954), deferent duct opens into a common atrium with the
with two microslides. vagina. The penis is unarmed. There is a pair ofhighly
ramified accessory glands and two muscular sacs
Geographic range: This species is known only from containing two stylets each. The glands and the sacs
South Africa (present study). are located on the dorsal side (Figure 9C). Each stylet
mm
External morphology: The body is oval and elongated, ias albaorguet 0a.n2d ovailn lbeunrgstah.cTohpuelasthroirxt.vaFgrionamcotnhneecbtusrstao
higher in the middle portion. The dorsum is covered
copulatrix leads another short duct that connects to the
with numerous low tubercles of various sizes closely
seminal receptacle and the short uterine duct. The
arranged and densely distributed. Wider tubercles are
surrounded by smaller ones. There are no larger bursa copulatrix is about five times larger than the
seminal receptacle.
tubercles located on the rhinophoral sheaths as in P.
mulciber. There are numerous large holes covering the Etymology: From the Latin "caeruleus'' in reference to
surface of the notum. The gill is composed of seven the blue color ofthe species.
tripinnate branchial leaves, and the rhinophores have
mm
10 lamellae in a 24 preserved length specimen Remarks: Dayrat (2006) described specimens from
(SAM A360I9). The number oflamellae and branchial the Cape Province of South Africa that he attributed
leaves in the other specimen available are not provided to Paradoris erythraeensis (Vayssiere, 1912). These
since these structures were retracted in their sheaths. animals differ from the holotype of P. erythraeensis
Themantleiswide and undulating. The anterior border in several important aspects of their anatomy. The
of the foot is grooved and notched (Figure 9A). The holotype of P. erythraeensis has a series of conical
oral tentacles are finger-like in shape and grooved. The tubercles on the back. Gohar & Abu-Ela (1959) also
foot is completely covered by the notum when the noted these tubercles in another specimen they
animal is in motion. examined from the Red Sea. They also described the
The background color ofliving animals is a uniform color ofthe living animal as "light gray with scattered
gray blue with two black spots (Figure IB) located roundish or irregularly shaped blackish brown patches.
almost halfway between the rhinophores and the It is finely tuberculated, large tubercles occurringin the
branchial leaves; however, there are also some small centre of the black patches and surrounded by more