Caribranchus morsomus ( Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1962 )

Gutiérrez, Manuel Caballer, Ortea, Jesús, Rivero, Nelsy, Tucker, Gabriela Carias, Malaquias, Manuel António E. & Narciso, Samuel, 2015, The opisthobranch gastropods (Mollusca: Heterobranchia) from Venezuela: an annotated and illustrated inventory of species, Zootaxa 4034 (2), pp. 201-256 : 229

83. Caribranchus morsomus ( Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1962)

( Figure 4 F–G)

Material examined. CSM, 1 spc., H = 60 mm, MCC.

Ecology. Rocky shores (5–20 m deep), feeding on red sponge. Due to his colour and swimming behaviour, has been called “Spanish dancer”.

Distribution. ABC Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guadeloupe, Panama, Puerto Rico, USA, Virgin Islands, Venezuela (Valdés et al. 2006).

Remarks. Valdés et al. (2006) considered the (Caribbean) genus Caribranchus a synonym of (the Indo- Pacific) Hexabranchus arguing the lack of phylogenetic evidences to support the former genus. However, Caribranchus is characterized by presence of tubercles on the dorsum, smooth labial cuticle, and radula with medial tooth, whereas Hexabranchus have smooth dorsum, armed labial cuticles with sticks, and radula lacking medial tooth. We interprete such differences are sufficient to continue with both genera, even if both are monotypic. Venezuela is the southern limit of the distribution of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 4. A, Bursatella leachii. B, Cadlina rumia. C, Bermudella polycerelloides. D, Doris bovena. E, Polycera odhneri. F, Caribranchus morsomus, ventra 1 view. G, Caribranchus morsomus, dοrsa 1 view. H, Dendrodoris krebsii. I, Dendrodoris warta (fixed). J, Felimida binza. K, Felimida clenchi. L, Tyrinna evelinae. M, Felimare ruthae. N, Felimare samueli.