Pleurobranchaea inconspicua

Pleurobranchaea inconspicua
Beached P. inconspicua on Hilton Head Island, SC
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Pleurobranchida
Family: Pleurobranchaeidae
Genus: Pleurobranchaea
Species:
P. inconspicua
Binomial name
Pleurobranchaea inconspicua
Bergh, 1897

Pleurobranchaea inconspicua is a species of sea slug belonging to the family Pleurobranchaeidae. Organisms within the genus Pleurobranchaea are considered side-gilled slugs and have well-separated rhinophores. P. inconspicua are benthic, with a typical distribution along coastal waters of the west Atlantic between Argentina and North Carolina. Physical characteristics include a translucent, cream white body with a mottled brown coloration and distinct white spots. They are opportunistic carnivores and active hunters, feeding on a variety of small invertebrates.

Taxonomy

Pleurobranchaea inconspicua is a species of marine slug in the genus Pleurobranchaea, a group of notaspideans (side-gilled sea slugs), and family Pleurobranchaeidae.[1] The species was originally named and described by Ludvig Sophus Rudolph Bergh in 1897 and was based off a singular specimen from the northeastern coast of Brazil.[2][3] Further studies and a re-evaluation of previous literature revealed synonyms for P. inconspicua, which included P. hedgpethi, P. hamva, and P. bonnieae.[2][4] While P. gela was originally thought to be a synonym, it was later recognized as a valid species.[2]

Historical determination of species within Pleurobranchaea was largely based on the classical hard structures of radula and jaw morphology, but this method is generally insufficient for distinguishing species of Pleurobranchaea due to their high morphological similarities.[2][4] While using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to image hard structures is an improvement on old techniques, the most revealing method is an examination of their reproductive system and penile morphology.[2][5]

Morphology

Pleurobranchaea inconspicua is a medium-large sea slug, growing up to 80mm.[4] It has an elongated ovular form, and its body is a translucent, cream white with a mottled, dark brown pattern featuring prominent white spots.[2][4] The foot maintains this pattern, but is a lighter brown.[2][4] Large gills are visible on the dorsolateral side with 20-26 pinnules.[2] Long, separated rhinophores and a caudal spur are present.[2][4]

Distribution and habitat

This species has a recorded range in the west Atlantic between Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (USA) and San José Gulf (Argentina) and is found at depths up to 150m.[6][4][7] It has also been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea and coast of west Africa.[2][8][4][7] They are benthic organisms and prefer soft substrates.[2][7]

Diet

Pleurobranchaea inconspicua are opportunistic carnivores and, like all Pleurobranchaea spp., active hunters, feeding on a variety of small invertebrates.[9][7] Their diet includes sponges, anemones, annelids, and other mollusks.[9][10][11]

Reproduction

Pleurobranchaea inconspicua are simultaneous hermaphrodites, containing both male and female reproductive parts.[2] While the reproductive biology of P. inconspicua has not been independently studied, simultaneous gamete maturation and obligate cross-fertilization with copulation are shared traits of the clade Nudipleura.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Pleurobranchaea inconspicua Bergh, 1897". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Alvim, Juliana; Simone, Luiz Ricardo L.; Pimenta, Alexandre Dias (2014). "Taxonomic review of the genus Pleurobranchaea (Gastropoda: Pleurobranchoidea) from Brazil, with description of a new species". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 80 (5): 604–623. doi:10.1093/mollus/eyu063. ISSN 0260-1230.
  3. ↑ Bergh, L. S. R. (1897). Die Pleurobranchiden (in German). Wiesbaden: C. W. Kreidel Verlag. pp. 1–115.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Muniain, Claudia; Ardila, Néstor E.; Cervera, Juan Lucas (2006). "Pleurobranchaea inconspicua Bergh, 1897 (Opisthobranchia: Pleurobranchidae): Redescription and distribution from Argentina and Colombia". Bonner Zoologische Beiträge. 55: 291–300.
  5. ↑ Willan, R. C. (1987). "Phylogenetic systematics of the Notaspidea (Opisthobranchia) with reappraisal of families and genera". American Malacological Bulletin. 5: 215–241.
  6. ↑ Marcus, Eveline D. B. -R.; Gosliner, Terrence M. (1984). "Review of the family Pleurobranchaeidae (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia)". Annals of the South African Museum. 93: 1–52.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Rosenberg, Gary; Moretzsohn, Fabio; García, Emilio F.; Felder, D.L.; Camp, D.K. (2009). "Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico". Gulf of Mexico Origins, Waters, and Biota. 1: 579–699.
  8. ↑ Costello, Mark J.; Emblow, Chris; White, Richard J. (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Patrimoines naturels. Paris: Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. ISBN 978-2-85653-538-7.
  9. 1 2 Farias, Ne; Obenat, S; Goya, Ab (2015). "Outbreak of a neurotoxic side-gilled sea slug ( Pleurobranchaea sp.) in Argentinian coasts". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 42 (1): 51–56. Bibcode:2015NZJZ...42...51F. doi:10.1080/03014223.2014.990045. hdl:11336/101045. ISSN 0301-4223.
  10. ↑ Ronny (2024-10-21). "Pleurobranchaea inconspicua". Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  11. ↑ Willan, R.C. (1984). "A review of diets in the Notaspidea (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia)". Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia. 6 (3–4): 125–142. doi:10.1080/00852988.1984.10673965. ISSN 0085-2988.
  12. ↑ Turani, Martina; Carmona, Leila; Barry, Peter J.; Close, Hayden L.; Bullimore, Ross; Cervera, Juan Lucas (2024). "First occurrence of the genus Pleurobranchaea Leue, 1813 (Pleurobranchida, Nudipleura, Heterobranchia) in British waters, with the description of a new species". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 100 (1): 49–59. doi:10.3897/zse.100.113707. hdl:10498/31489. ISSN 1860-0743.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.