Dermatobranchus sp. 1

Mehrotra, Rahul, A. Caballer Gutierrez, Manuel, M. Scott, Chad, Arnold, Spencer, Monchanin, Coline, Viyakarn, Voranop & Chavanich, Suchana, 2021, An updated inventory of sea slugs from Koh Tao, Thailand, with notes on their ecology and a dramatic biodiversity increase for Thai waters, ZooKeys 1042, pp. 73-188 : 73

* Dermatobranchus sp. 1 Figure 19G, H

Material examined.

Three specimens 28-40 mm, SB.

Ecology.

Exclusive to the soft sediment habitats outside the coral reef where it feeds on colonies of the octocoral Dendronephthya sp. Depth 14-24 m.

Distribution.

Unknown.

Remarks.

A species that vaguely resembles but is distinct from Dermatobranchus semilunus is regularly recorded from the same habitats and locations as other soft-sediment dwelling members of the genus. Specimens of Dermatobranchus sp. 1 externally appear to have characteristics of D. fasciatus and D. semilunus . All specimens have prominent longitudinal ridges on a generally white dorsum, with numerous black spots of varying sizes distributed along the ridges and margin of the oral veil. The oral veil always has patches of grey and the margin is sometimes pigmented with a yellow-pink band which is often pale or completely absent in some specimens. The dorsal surface usually has a single horizontal diffuse band approximately one third of the total animal length. The foot is pale pink to white, sometimes with numerous small black spots. The rhinophores have white tips, dark clubs with white lines along the lamellae, and white stalks with dark grey pigment along the inner edge of the stalks often forming a dark grey band in between and anterior to the rhinophores.

Figures

Figure 19. A Armina scotti 41 mm B Dermatobranchus caeruleomaculatus 55 mm C Dermatobranchus dendronephthyphagus 40 mm D Dermatobranchus fortunatus 11 mm E Dermatobranchus semilunus 33 mm (photograph by Pau Urgell Plaza) F Dermatobranchus cf. striatus 14 mm G, H Dermatobranchus sp. 1 32 mm (G) and 28 mm (H) I, J Dermatobranchus sp. 2 27 mm K Bornella hermanni 12 mm L Bornella johnsonorum 35 mm.