Thecacera pacifica ( Bergh, 1884 )

Tibiriçá, Yara, Pola, Marta & Cervera, Juan Lucas, 2017, Astonishing diversity revealed: an annotated and illustrated inventory of Nudipleura (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from Mozambique, Zootaxa 4359 (1), pp. 1-133 : 71

Thecacera pacifica ( Bergh, 1884)

( Figure 23 I –J )

Material examined. Three specimens. MHN-YT1349, NKA, 13 Jun. 2014, 19m, 15mm; MB28-004 909, NKA, 13 Jun. 2014, 18m, 9mm; MB28-0 0 4962, ZSC, 28 Jan. 2015, 21m, 18mm.

Habitats. Subtropical rocky reefs and tropical coral reefs.

Occurrences. Zavora, Nacala and Nuarro.

Geographic distribution. Indo-west, central Pacific. Hawaii, Japan, Vanuatu, Philippines, Indonesia (Gosliner et al. 2008), Australia (Nimbs et al. 2016), Red Sea (Gosliner et al. 2008), South Africa ( Gosliner 1987) and Mozambique ( Macnae & Kalk 1958 as T. inhacae ).

Remarks. The two specimens found in northern Mozambique exhibit additional bluish-black stripes posterior to the gill and on the lateral dorsum ( Fig. 22 D ). The other specimen from the south lacks these stripes, and matches Bergh’s description (1883). Additional stripes appear to be merely a colour variation, but further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Figures

FIGURE 22. A–B, Phyllidiopsis cf. xishaensis (ZMNB117067), dorsal and ventral view. C–D, Phyllidiopsis sp. (MB28- 004719). E, Reticulidia suzanneae (ZMBN119702). F, Dendrodoris carbunculosa (MB28-005034) juvenile. G, Dendrodoris carbunculosa (in situ). H, Dendrodoris coronata (ZMBN105084). I, Dendrodoris fumata (MB28-004511). J–K, Dendrodoris krusensternii (MB28-004728) dorsal andventral view.L, Dendrodoris krusensternii (MB28-004839).

FIGURE 23. A, Dendrodoris krusensternii (MB28-004839), ventro-lateral view. B–D, Dendrodoris nigra (MB28-004635, MHN-YT818 and MB28-004949, respectively). E–F, Dendrodoris tuberculosa (MB28-004692), dorsal and ventral view. G, Doriopsilla sp. 1 (MB28-004804). H, Doriopsilla sp. 2 (ZMBN105124). I–J, Thecacera pacifica (MB28-004909 and MB28- 004962, respectively). K, Thecaceracf. picta (MB28-004858).L, Nembrotha aurea (MB28-004863).