Cratena pawarshindeorum, Bharate & Padula & Apte & Shimpi, 2020

Bharate, Monisha, Padula, Vinicius, Apte, Deepak & Shimpi, Gaurav G., 2020, Integrative description of two new Cratena species (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) from western India, Zootaxa 4729 (3), pp. 359-370 : 364-365

Cratena pawarshindeorum sp. nov.

( Figures 2 C–D, 3C–D and 3F)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C7689972-1A63-4798-8969-EA1AFEDC4B65

Cratena sp.1— Apte & Desai 2017: 423.

Type Material. Holotype: India, Maharashtra, Uran (Raigad), intertidal, collected by Deepak Apte, 10.09.2009, 30 mm in length ( BNHS Opistho 178) . Paratypes: 7 specimens, collected together with the holotype ( BNHS Opistho 333a) ; 3 specimens, collected at the type locality by Unmesh Katwate, 24.11.2011 ( BNHS Opistho 900) .

Additional material. India, Maharashtra, Waravade , 10 specimens, collected by Vishal Bhave, 29.1.2010 ( BNHS Opistho 333b) .

Type locality. Uran (Raigad), Maharashtra, India (18°54’35.9”N 72°54’55.3”E) .

Etymology. This species is named in honour of Rajendra Pawar and Vishwas Shinde for their dedicated work at the Bombay Natural History Society and their contributions to the collection of nudibranch samples.

Description. Aeolid up to 30 mm long alive, oral tentacles with 1/4 to 1/3 of body length, basally large; rhinophores smooth; up to seven groups of cerata, precardiac group in an arch, postcardiac groups in rows; gonopore below the first group of cerata, anus anterior to the second group of cerata. Body white; lateral foot, oral region and basal 1/4 of the oral tentacles translucent white; pair of large quadrangular reddish orange spots laterally on the head, projected dorsally towards mouth; base of rhinophores translucent white, distal portion reddish orange with white tips; cerata translucent, thin digestive gland varying from dark red to orange in colour, distally dark red; cnidosac oval or triangular, white ( Figure 2 C–D). Radula with 30 rachidian teeth (BNHS Opistho 178, 30 mm specimen); teeth base semicircular in shape; triangular elongate central cusp with undistinguished base separation from teeth; central cusp smooth; 6–7 curved lateral cusps, outermost lateral cusp smaller than central and innermost ones; jaw plate roughly ovate, cutting edge projected in a short triangular area, denticulate border with a single row of large quadrangular denticles ( Figure 3 ). Ampulla short and wide; seminal receptacle small; penis elongate, glandular portion undifferentiated or absent ( Figure 4B ).

Habitat. Found associated with the hydroid Pennaria disticha Goldfuss, 1820 Abundant from October to March.

Distribution. Known from various localities along the coast of Maharashtra, western India, including Uran (Raigad), Bandra, Khar Danda ( Mumbai) and Waravade, Undi, Purnagad, Kasheli, Ambolgadh (Ratnagiri).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Living specimens. A–B. Cratena poshitraensis sp. nov., specimens from Poshitra, Gurajat, India. A. Not collected. B. Holotype (BNHS Opistho 665). C–D. Cratena pawarshindeorum sp. nov., specimens from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. C. Holotype (BNHS Opistho 178). D. Paratypes (BNHS Opistho 333a).

FIGURE 3. SEM micrographs. A–B. Rachidian teeth of Cratena poshitraensis sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 665). C–D. Rachidian teeth of Cratena pawarshindeorum sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 178). E. Masticatory border of the jaw of Cratena poshitraensis sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 665). F. Masticatory border of the jaw of Cratena pawarshindeorum sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 178).

FIGURE 4. Reproductive system. A. Cratena poshitraensis sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 665). B. Cratena pawarshindeorum sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 178). Abbreviations: am, ampulla; ap, accessory portion; dd, deferent duct; fg, female gland; pe, penis; va, vagina. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.