Nembrotha rosannulata
Pola, Cervera & Gosliner, 2008

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Polyceridae
Subfamily: Nembrothinae

DISTRIBUTION

Eastern Australia [known only from northern New South Wales & sthn Great Barrier Reef]

PHOTO

Little Wreck, Cabbage Tree Island, Port Stephens, NSW Australia. Depth: 14 metres. Length: 100 mm. 03 September 2005. Sandy bottom with large colony of Sigillina cyanea on the edge of an island just outside the harbour. Photo: Leanne & David Atkinson

Large dull green nembrothid with the body textured with rounded longitudinal ridges and scattered raised pustules of various sizes. The pustules are black and each is surrounded by a pink ring which give this species its characteristic colour pattern - and name. The rhinophores are black, and the pink rhinophores sheaths are edged in black. The front of the mantle has a pink band which is edged in black and the oral tentacles are pink with black tips. The gill stalks and branches are pink while the gill pinnae are black.

This species grows to at least 12 cm in length alive and present information suggest it feeds exclusively on the stalked ascidian Sigillina cyanea.

Nomenclatural note: As noted by Pola et al (2008) in their recent description of this species, Debelius & Kuiter (2007) ignored advice from reviewers and used the name Nembrotha rosannulata before it was formally published. Their usage has no status in zoological nomenclature, but again emphasises the care taxonomists need to take in keeping new names secret until formal publication.

• Pola, M., Cervera, J.L. and Gosliner, T.M. 2008. Revision of the Indo-Pacific genus Nembrotha (Nudibranchia: Dorididae: Polyceridae), with description of two new species. Scientia Marina 72(1): 145-183.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2008 (March 3) Nembrotha rosannulata Pola, Cervera & Gosliner, 2008. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/nembrosa

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