Investigating the amphiatlantic status of Facelina bostoniensis (Couthouy, 1838) (Nudibranchia: Aeolidida)

The aeolid species Facelina bostoniensis (Couthouy, 1838) was originally described from Massachusetts and was later reported from the Eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. So far, no molecular systematic study of its amphiatlantic status has been carried out. Phylogenetic analyses (maximum likelihood and Bayesian) of DNA sequence data for the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S rRNA genes confirm the amphiatlantic status of F. bostoniensis. My findings show that this species is restricted to the Atlantic realm and that the species recorded from the Mediterranean is not F. bostoniensis but F. vicina (Bergh, 1882). It is hypothesized that previous records of F. bostoniensis from the Mediterranean Sea were actually misidentifications of F. vicina

Two new species of the tropical facelinid nudibranch Moridilla Bergh, 1888 (Heterobranchia: Aeolidida) from Australasia

The Indo-Pacific aeolid nudibranch Moridilla brockii Bergh, 1888 comprises a species complex. Here we describe two morphs from the complex as new species. Using morphological comparisons, we show the new species to be closely related but distinct from each other and from M. brockii. Distributed across north-western Australia, M. fifo sp. nov. is known from Exmouth, Western Australia to the Wessel Islands, Northern Territory, whereas M. hermanita sp. nov. is known only from Madang, Papua New Guinea. Differences between the two species include colouration, the size of the receptaculum seminis and some distinction in the jaws. Unravelling the entire complex will take much wider geographic sampling, and will require recollection from the type locality of M. brockii. This group is yet another example of a purportedly widespread aeolid species comprising a complex of species

Double trouble. A cryptic first record of Berghia marinae Carmona, Pola, Gosliner, & Cervera 2014 in the Mediterranean Sea

In 2014, Berghia marinae Carmona, Pola, Gosliner & Cervera, 2014 from Senegal was described along with the revision of the genus Berghia Trinchese, 1877. In this study, we establish a second record for the senegalese species B. marinae in the Mediterranean Sea, 4,000 Km away from its type location. The morphological mismatch from the original description hampered its identification, and thus, a molecular approach was needed. Multilocus phylogenetic trees were inferred from Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses based on partial DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S rRNA genes, and the nuclear gene histone-3. Species delimitation analyses were performed to support the phylogenetic results and a new morphological description is provided complementing earlier information on this barely known species

The end of a long controversy: systematics of the genus Limenandra (Mollusca: Nudibranchia: Aeolidiidae)

imenandra Haefelfinger and Stamm 1958 is a small genus within the Aeolidiidae with, until this paper, only two species: Limenandra nodosa Haefelfinger and Stamm 1958 and Limenandra fusiformis Baba 1949. Although most recent authors have regarded Limenandra as a junior synonym of Baeolidia Bergh 1888, recent molecular studies have demonstrated its monophyletic status and have rejected the circumtropical distribution attributed to the type species, L. nodosa. The present paper reviews the previously known species of Limenandra with additional morphological data and describes three new species: Limenandra barnosii sp. nov. and Limenandra rosanae sp. nov. from the Indo-Pacific are easily distin- guished from all other Limenandra species by their vivid and bright colour patterns, while Limenandra confusa sp. nov., also from the Indo-Pacific, is very similar to the Atlantic and Mediterranean L. nodosa. The five species differ in colouration, the size and ornamentation of the cerata, the rhinophorial papillae, details of the reproductive system and the number of salivary glands. Additionally, Limenandra can be easily distinguished from other Aeoli- diidae based on differences in the radular and receptaculum seminis morphology

Integrative taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Bulbaeolidia (Nudibranchia: Aeolidida)

Bulbaeolidia Carmona, Pola, Gosliner & Cervera, 2013 is the most recently described genus within the family Aeolidiidae Gray, 1827. It is composed of four species: B. alba (Risbec, 1928), originally described from New Caledonia; B. japonica (Eliot, 1913), from Japan; B. sulphurea Caballer & Ortea, 2015, from the Galapagos Islands and B. oasis Caballer & Ortea, 2015, with Cuba as the type locality. This paper aims to improve the systematics of the genus Bulbaeolidia by expanding the original descriptions of these four species, giving the first accounts of their reproductive systems, and in addition describing one new species, B. paulae n. sp. from Hawaii. A molecular phylogeny based on H3, COI and 16 S genes for all five species of Bulbaeolidia is presented. Maximum-likelihood, Bayesian inference and species-delimitation analyses were carried out and support the distinctness of these species. The geographical distribution of the genus is expanded by new records

Protaeolidiella atra Baba, 1955 versus Pleurolidia juliae Burn, 1966: One or two species?

Protaeolidiella atra Baba, 1955 and Pleuroli- dia juliae Burn, 1966 are two species traditionally regarded as the members of Aeolidiidae but recently attributed to Facelinidae. Because of their apparent similarities, Rud- man (J Molluscan Stud 56:505–514, 1990) rendered P. juliae as a junior synonym of P. atra. In this paper, we conducted a review of both species and completed their descriptions with new data regarding the anatomy of the reproductive system. P. atra and P. juliae have differences in their colouration, number of cerata and characteristics of their reproductive system. Based on these differences, we conclude that these species are not conspecific and should be regarded as distinct taxa

Burnaia Miller, 2001 (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Nudibranchia): a facelinid genus with an Aeolidiidae’s outward appearance

In recent years, several morphological and molecular analyses have been undertaken to study the phylogenetic systematics of Aeolidiidae members. The monospecific genus Burnaia could not be included in the previous analysis, due to the lack of material. This study includes two specimens of Burnaia helicochorda from Australia and places them in their systematic position using two mitochondrial and one nuclear genes (COI and 16S, and H3, respectively). A description of its anatomy is also included with colour pictures of the animal and scanning electron micrographs of radula and jaws. Based on our results, B. helicochorda does not belong to Aeolidiidae since it appears nested among some facelinids

A molecular approach to the phylogenetic status of the aeolid genus Babakina Roller, 1973 (Nudibranchia)

En este trabajo se demuestra con técnicas moleculares, la monofilia del género Babakina y de la familia Babakinida

An ocean yet to be discovered: increasing systematic knowledge of Indo-Pacific Okenia Menke, 1830 (Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae)

Numerous faunistic and ecological studies have been conducted throughout the Indo-Pacific Ocean to assess its biodiversity. Despite the abundance of research, studies on the species that inhabit the Indo-Pacific are still necessary due to its extent and high species richness. The major species richness of the genus Okenia Menke, 1830 (Nudibranchia, Goniodorididae) is found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, including 38 of 60 valid species. Nevertheless, this number does not represent the real biodiversity, since at least 20 more species are already reported in field-guides as undescribed species belonging to this genus. The systematics of the genus Okenia is still unclear since it has been the subject of only a few and incomplete studies. In the present paper, we describe five new Okenia species from the coastlines of Japan, Mozambique and Australia: Okenia aurorapapillata sp. nov., Okenia elisae sp. nov., Okenia nakanoae sp. nov., Okenia siderata sp. nov. and Okenia tenuifibrata sp. nov. Moreover, anatomical details not previously described of Okenia atkinsonorum, Okenia barnardi, Okenia cf. echinata, Okenia hallucigenia, Okenia hiroi, Okenia japonica, Okenia pellucida, Okenia pilosa and Okenia rhinorma are provided. New partial sequences of standard markers (COI, 16S rRNA and H3) were obtained and a phylogenetic analysis that included all species with available data was performed

First record of the Aeolid Anteaeolidiella fijensis (Nudibranchia, Aeolidiidae) from India

The aeolid Anteaeolidiella fijensis Carmona, Bhave, Salunkhe, Pola, Gosliner and Cervera, 2014 is report- ed for the first time from India. Differences in the external colouration compared with the original description hampered its identification, and therefore, a molecular approach was needed. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses of par- tial DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxi- dase subunit I and 16S rRNA genes, and the nuclear gene histone-3 were used to infer phylogenetic trees. ABGD spe- cies delimitation analyses and morphological study complemented this contribution. This is the first record of Anteaeolidiella fijensis outside the type locality and extends its distribution range remarkably. Here, we also complete the original description with new data regarding the external colouration and internal anatomy. Finally, the instraspecific variation may be related with an ontogenetic process or be a populationally distinctive feature