 |
| Eubranchus flexus Grishina, Antokhina & Ekimova, 2023 |
A new species belonging to the Fionidae (sensu Cella et al., 2016), Eubranchus flexus sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected in Nha Trang, Vietnam, South China Sea, Indo-West Pacific, from the upper sublittoral depth. An integrative analysis was conducted, including a molecular phylogenetic analysis based on three markers (COI, 16S, H3), and an analysis of the external and internal morphology using light and scanning electron microscopy. The distinctiveness of Eubranchus flexus sp. nov. is well established both morphologically and genetically. Phylogenetically Eubranchus flexus sp. nov. represents a derived branch in the phylogeny of Eubranchus, but its relationships with other Eubranchus species are unresolved likely due to low taxon sampling. Eubranchus flexus sp. nov. is the first representative of the genus ifor the nudibranch fauna of Vietnam and for now its range is restricted only to the type locality.
Keywords: Indo-West Pacific; Fionidae; Mollusca; integrative systematics; biodiversity; species delimitation;
 |
| Living specimens of Eubranchus flexus sp. nov. A. Holotype ZMMU WS19111, dorsal view. B. Paratype ZMMUWS19112, dorsal view, specimens was damaged during collection. Size of the fixed specimens is around 4 mm. C. Eubranchus flexus sp. nov. specimens with egg mass and the host hydrozoan colony; white arrows point to egg masses, black arrows with a white outline point to specimens. |
Eubranchus flexus sp. nov.
Etymology. From Latin “flexus” (bending, winding, curvilinear), referring to specific shape of cerata in this species.
Darya Grishina, Tatiana Antokhina and Irina Ekimova. 2023. A New Species of the Genus Eubranchus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) from Vietnamese Coastal Waters. Ruthenica Russian Malacological Journal. 33(1):1-8. ruthenica.net/node/5976
DOI: 10.35885/ruthenica.2023.33(1).1
