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| Jorunna liviae Tibiriçá, Strömvoll & Cervera, 2023 C. Jorunna liviae sp. nov. near its egg mass, and Favorinus sp. feeding on it; D. Close-up of Favorinus sp.; E. Jorunna liviae sp. nov. mating; F. Details of Jorunna liviae sp. nov. egg mass. DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.95222 |
Abstract
The nudibranch diversity of the western Indian Ocean is comparatively one of the least studied in the world. In this paper a sponge-like Discodoridae nudibranch Jorunna liviae sp. nov. is described. The description is based on integrative anatomy, including molecular analysis of two genes (the mitochondrial COI and the nuclear H3), dissections, electron microscopy (SEM) of buccal elements, micro tomography of the spicule’s arrangements and ecological observations. This study provides the first ever molecular data of Jorunna species from the western Indian Ocean, helping to fill the gap to further understand this apparent paraphyletic genus.
Key Words: biodiversity, Heterobranchia, Mozambique, new species, phylogeny, sea slugs
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| Jorunna liviae sp. nov. (MNCN15.05/200187) external morphology. A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. SEM photography of dorsal caryophyllids; D. Rhinophores sheath details; E. Rhinophore; F. Gill branches. |
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| Jorunna liviae sp. nov. in situ. A. Hosting sponge Amphimedon brevispiculifera (Dendy, 1905); B. Jorunna liviae sp. nov. resting on sponge; C. Jorunna liviae sp. nov. near its egg mass, and Favorinus sp. feeding on it; D. Close-up of Favorinus sp.; E. Jorunna liviae sp. nov. mating; F. Details of Jorunna liviae sp. nov. egg mass. |
Order Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817
Superfamily Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815
Family Discodorididae Bergh, 1891
Genus Jorunna Bergh, 1876
Jorunna liviae Tibiriçá, Strömvoll & Cervera, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Body elongate-ovulated. Dorsum pale gray to pink, covered on highly dense caryphyllidia; rhinophores short, with up to nine lamellae, ending in a knob apex; six to nine bipinnate branchial leaves encircling the anal pore. Radula with five to seven very thin pectinated outermost teeth bearing long bundled fibrous denticles. Labial cuticle smooth. Copulatory spine with bifid apex.
Etymology: This species is dedicated to Livia Renée Cornelius, daughter of the second author of this paper.
Habitat: Specimens were collected on submerged subtropical compressed sandstone reefs in Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique.
Yara Tibiriçá, Jenny Strömvoll and Juan Lucas Cervera. 2023. Can you find me? A New Sponge-like Nudibranch from the Genus Jorunna Bergh, 1876 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Discodorididae). Zoosystematics and Evolution 99(1): 63-75. DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.95222
