Baeolidia chaka ( Gosliner, 1985 )

Carmona, Leila, Pola, Marta, Gosliner, Terrence M. & Cervera, Juan Lucas, 2014, Review of Baeolidia, the largest genus of Aeolidiidae (Mollusca: Nudibranchia), with the description of five new species, Zootaxa 3802 (4), pp. 477-514 : 494

Baeolidia chaka ( Gosliner, 1985)

( Fig. 8 E)

Berghia chaka Gosliner, 1985 , 245, Figs. 11–14 .

Type locality. Jesser Point, Sodwana Bay National Park, South Africa.

Type material. The type material was deposited in the South African Museum, Cape Town ( Gosliner 1985). The registration number of the holotype of Baeolidia chaka is SAM-A35634.

Geographical distribution. So far, only known from South Africa ( Gosliner 1985).

External and internal morphology. Described in detail and figured by Gosliner (1985). No specimens available for the present study.

Remarks. Berghia chaka was described originally from South Africa ( Gosliner 1985). The original description was based on two specimens, both deposited in the South African Museum, Cape Town (SAM). The only available information stems from the original description since this species has not been found again. The body and teeth shape, the flattened cerata and the oral glands described and figured by Gosliner (1985), lead us to transfer Berghia chaka to Baeolidia .

Gosliner (1985) considered the anteriorly rounded foot as the diagnostic character of B. chaka . This species also has some cerata noticeably longer than the rest, which is not very common in Baeolidia . In external appearance, B. chaka most closely resembles B. japonica . However, the latter species possesses tentacular foot corners, a bluish band on the anterior side and cerata uniform in size.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Photographs of the living animals. (A) Baeolidia harrietae, specimen from Papua New Guinea, photo by Terrence M. Gosliner; (B) Baeolidia australis, specimen from Australia, photo by Lean and David Atkinson; (C) Baeolidia salaamica, specimen from the Philippines, photo by Terrence M. Gosliner, CASIZ 177599; (D) Baeolidia salaamica, specimen from the Philippines, photo by Terrence M. Gosliner, CASIZ 177397; (E) Baeolidia chaka, specimen from South Africa (6 mm), photo by Terrence M. Gosliner; (F) Baeolidia palythoae, specimen from South Africa (8 mm), photo by Terrence M. Gosliner.

FIGURE 11. Scanning electron photographs. A, B, Baeolidia rieae sp. nov. (CASIZ 184525); (A) Detailed view of the jaw; (B) Radular teeth; (C – D) Baeolidia variabilis sp. nov. (CASIZ 177715); (C) Detailed view of the masticatory border; (D) Radular teeth; (E-F) Baeolidia lunaris sp. nov. (CASIZ 099221); (E) Detailed view of the masticatory border; (F) Radular teeth. Scale bars: A, 30 µm; B, 100 µm; C, 2 µm; D, 10 µm; E, 10 µm; F, 20 µm.

FIGURE 12. Photographs of the living animals. (A) Baeolidia lunaris sp. nov., specimen from Tanzania, photo by Terrence M. Gosliner, CASIZ 099221; (B) Baeolidia gracilis sp. nov., specimen from the Philippines, photo by Terrence M. Gosliner, CASIZ 083766; (D) Baeolidia scottjohnsoni sp. nov., specimen from Marshall Islands, photo by Scott Johnson, CASIZ 184503.

FIGURE 13. Scanning electron photographs. (A – B) Baeolidia gracilis sp. nov. (CASIZ 083766); (A) Detailed view of the masticatory border; (B) Radular teeth; (C – D) Baeolidia scottjohnsoni sp. nov. (CASIZ 184503); (C) Detailed view of the masticatory border; (D) Radular teeth. Scale bars: A, 3 µm; B, 10 µm; C, 50 µm; D, 100 µm.

FIGURE 14. Reproductive system. (A) Baeolidia gracilis sp. nov., specimen from the Philippines (CASIZ 083766); (B) Baeolidia scottjohnsoni sp. nov., specimen from Marshall Islands (CASIZ 184503). Scale bars: A, 0.5 mm; B, 1 mm. Abbreviations: am, ampulla; fgm, female gland mass; ps, penial sac; rs, receptaculum seminis; v, vagina; vd, vas deferens.