Dendrodoris fumata (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1830)

Maniei, Fatemeh & Wägele, Heike, 2024, Dendrodorididae (Heterobranchia, Nudibranchia) from Persian Gulf with a description of a new species of Doriopsilla and remarks on the family, European Journal of Taxonomy 943 (1), pp. 179-217 : 191-192

Dendrodoris fumata (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1830)

Figs 2C–E , 5B , 6

Dendrodoris fumata – Yonow 2012: 52 , fig. 56 ( Saudi Arabia) and references therein.

Diagnosis

Body colour pale brown to translucent red/orange to almost black; specimens with paler colours often with irregular dark patches on notum. Body soft, without spicules; more oval in shape when crawling and with a more wavy mantle margin than in D. nigra . Five or six large gills. Ptyalin glands and salivary glands present. Penis with spines. In the present study we confirm the presence of a vestibular gland.

Material examined

IRAN • 12 specs; Bandar Lengeh ; 26°33′29″ N, 54°52′50″ E; intertidal; Mar.–Apr. 2015; Fatemeh Maniei leg.; ZMH 141489 • 6 specs; Lavan Island ; 26°48′20.99″ N, 53°16′4.80″ E; Mar. 2016; Fatemeh Maniei leg.; ZMH 141489 .

Description

GENERAL APPEARANCE. Body length of preserved animals: 15–32 mm. Body of investigated live animals elongate, with soft and smooth notum. Margin of the notum wavy, thin, and wider than in D. nigra . Body colour variable: completely black with traces of a submarginal red-orange band around the anterior end of the mantle ( Fig. 2C ), red ( Fig. 2D ) or pale brown ( Fig. 2E ). The red and the pale brown animals with a large number of dark brown patches on the dorsal surface, except at the margin. Rhinophores of the same colour as the dorsal surface, but always with a white apex. Clavus with 10–16 lamellae in larger animals. Five large, branched gills, usually somewhat darker than the dorsal notum.

HISTOLOGY. Reproductive system of one specimen (red form, 24 mm in length, collected in Bandar Lengeh 2015) was extracted and investigated separately by histological means. The slide series is deposited in the histology collection of the LIB, Museum Koenig Bonn (without number).

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. A general outline of the reproductive system is given in Fig. 5B . Gonad intermingled with the digestive gland and kidney. Ampulla filled with autosperm; epithelium thin with cuboidal cells ( Fig. 6A ). Non-prostatic part of vas deferens with elongate and ciliated epithelial cells. The prostate gland partly accompanying vas deferens, composed of epithelium with large glandular cells, staining pale blue; thick layer of subepithelial glandular cells present with small, dark blue, stained cells ( Fig. 6A ). Penis equipped with spines and thick cuticular layer ( Fig. 6B ). Vagina and vas deferens opening into vestibulum. Vagina with thick folded walls ( Fig. 6C ). Receptaculum seminis with epithelium composed of small cuboidal cells and surrounded by thick muscle layer ( Fig. 6D ); with sperm partly attached to the wall and partly lying in the lumen. Bursa copulatrix filled with sperm remnants; its thin epithelium composed of cuboidal cells, without underlying muscle layer ( Fig. 6E ). Female gland with three distinguishable parts: capsule, membrane, and mucous gland staining from red to dark violet ( Fig. 6E ). Large vestibular gland attached to distal oviduct; partly lying in lateral body tissue and partly in body cavity; internally highly folded, whereas oviduct less folded in this area ( Fig. 6F ). Epithelium of vestibular gland with small elongate cells, but thick microvillous border, in which bacteria are assumed to reside ( Fig. 6G–H ). Distal oviduct tube-like, with small mucus cells, and opening outwards next to vestibulum. A nematode and another unidentified parasite were observed in the vicinity of the genital opening ( Fig. 6F ).

Figures

Fig. 2. External appearance of live animals. A. Dorsal view of Dendrodoris nigra (W. Stimpson, 1855) with black mantle and yellow spots. B. Dendrodoris nigra with black mantle, white spots, and a thick distinct red submarginal band; inset shows ventral view. C. Dendrodoris fumata (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1830) black form. D. Dendrodoris fumata red form. E. Dendrodoris fumata pale brown form. F. Dorsal view of Doriopsilla aroni sp. nov.; inset shows ventral view.

Fig. 5. Schematic outline of genital system of species of Dendrodoris Ehrenberg, 1831. A. D. nigra (W. Stimpson 1855). B. D. fumata (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1830). Abbreviations: Am = Ampulla; Bc = Bursa copulatrix; Gn = Gonad; P = Penis; Pr = Prostate gland; Rs = Receptaculum seminis; Va = Vaginal duct; Vgl =Vestibular gland.

Fig. 6. Histological cross sections of genital system of Dendrodoris fumata (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1830). A. Gonad, ampulla, and prostate. B. Penis with spines (arrows) inside the muscular sheath. C. Vaginal duct and vas deferens. D. Receptaculum seminis. E. Gonad, prostate, bursa copulatrix, receptaculum seminis, proximal oviduct and a part of nidamental gland. F. Strongly folded vestibular gland (*) starting from less folded oviduct. G. Vestibular gland. H. Vestibular gland. Note the thick microvilli fringe. Abbreviations: Am = Ampulla; Bc = Bursa copulatrix; Gn = Gonad; Ngl = Nidamental gland; Ov = Oviduct; P = Penis; Pr = Prostate gland; Rs = Receptaculum seminis; Va = Vaginal duct; Vd = Vas deferens.