Cratena poshitraensis sp. nov.

(Figures 2 A–B, 3A–B and 3E)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 12F30A89-1CD1-4AA2-B51E-8AB1BB037604

Cratena sp.2— Apte & Desai 2017: 424.

Type Material. Holotype: India, Gujarat, Poshitra, intertidal, collected by Deepak Apte, 24.11.2011, 25mm in length (BNHS Opistho 665) . Paratypes: 2 specimens, collected with the holotype at type locality, 24.11.2011 (BNHS Opistho 664); 5 specimens, collected at type locality by Vishal Bhave, 30.03.2010 (BNHS Opistho 138) .

Additional material. INDIA: Gujarat, Poshitra, intertidal, 15 specimens, collected by Deepak Apte and Vishal Bhave, 11.12.2009 (BNHS Opistho 42) .

Type locality. Poshitra, Gujarat, India (22°24’06.2”N 69°12’27.7”E) .

Etymology. This species is named after its type locality, the village of Poshitra, Gujarat, India.

Description. Aeolid up to 25 mm long alive, oral tentacles long, 1/3 to 1/2 of body length; rhinophores smooth; five groups of cerata, precardiac group in an arch, postcardiac groups in rows; gonopore below first group of cerata, anus anterior to second group of cerata. Body white; lateral foot, head region and basal 1/3 of the oral tentacles and rhinophores translucent white; eyes visible through the mantle, behind rhinophores; pair of rectangular yellowish orange spots laterally on head, between rhinophores and oral tentacles; spots a bit larger dorsally on the head; central 1/3 of rhinophores translucent orange, apical 1/3 cream; cerata translucent, digestive gland varying from deep purplish-red to orange in colour; distally dark red; cnidosac triangular, white (Figure 2 A–B). Radula with 24 rachidian teeth (BNHS Opistho 665, 25mm specimen); teeth almost triangular, large prominent and triangular central cusp with semicircular base; central cusp smooth; up to six, exceptionally seventh in lateral cusps, first and outermost lateral cusps smaller than middle ones (Figure 3); jaw plate roughly ovate, with a slight dorsal indentation, cutting edge projected in a short triangular area, denticulate border with a single row of elongate and bluntly pointed denticles; additional row of very small triangular denticles internally on cutting edge (Figure 3). Ampulla large, wide and curved; seminal receptacle large; penis short and globular with a small accessory portion (Figure 4A).

Habitat. Found associated with the hydroid Pennaria disticha Goldfuss, 1820 (Nagale & Apte 2014). Abundant from November to March.

Distribution. Poshitra, Porbandar, Dwarka, Okha and Veraval, state of Gujarat, India.