Phylliroe cf. bucephala

(Figure 4 (a))

Material examined

Cala d’Aiguablava, Begur (Spain), 41°56 ʹ 13.4”N, 3°13 ʹ 8.6”E, 29 March 2021, 3 m depth, 1 spc., adult, L = 20 mm; Cap de Begur, Begur (Spain), 41°57 ʹ 2”N, 3°14 ʹ 3.1”E, 30 March 2021, 2–4 m depth, 4 spcs, adults, L = 20–30 mm; Cala Sa Tuna, Begur (Spain), 41°57 ʹ 38”N, 3°13 ʹ 52”E, 31 March 2021, 1 m depth, 5 spcs, adults, L = 10– 20 mm; Montiel, Tamariu (Spain), 41°54 ʹ 55.9”N, 3°12 ʹ 46.3”E, 1 April 2021, 3 m depth, 2 spcs, adults, L = 20 mm .

External morphology

Body flat, laterally compressed, ending in a fishtail shape; translucent tegument, internal organs seen by transparency (four digestive gland ramifications, reproductive and nervous systems); numerous yellow, iridescent spots on dorsal and ventral sides. Rhinophores long, smooth, slightly rippled once in ethanol.

Ecology

The species lives in the open sea, generally at great depths, having a body adapted for swimming. Feeds on jellyfish, although its diet is not well studied.

Distribution

Syria (Durgham and Ikhtiyar 2020); Italy (Schmekel and Portmann 1982); Spain: Canary Islands (Cervera et al. 2004), Spanish Levantine coast (Cervera et al. 2004), Catalonia (this study).

Remarks

According to Lamarck’s description (1816) and his illustrations, our specimens resemble P. bucephala, but a molecular analysis is required to validate its identity due to its similarities to P. lichtensteinii Eschscholtz, 1825, which has also been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea. In any case, this represents the first record of the genus Phylliroe on the Iberian Spanish coast.

Family EUBRANCHIDAE Odhner, 1934

Genus Amphorina Quatrefages, 1844