Piseinotecus gabinieri - rings on rhinophores

June 26, 2007
From: Miquel Pontes


Concerning message #15263:

Hello Bill,
I have read your information regarding Piseinotecus gabinieri, a specimen we came across in our last dive.  In the pictures I could take, the rhinophores are rugose (as stated in species description) but not annulated (as shown in some of the published pictures).

Could it be possible we are talking of two different species? Or perhaps this is a mere difference among specimens ?

Locality: Els Caials, Cadaqués, Costa Brava, 20 metres, Spain, Mediterranean Sea, 9 June 2007, Coralligen rock. Length: 25 mm. Photographer: Miquel Pontes.

Best regards
Miquel
http://marenostrum.org

info@marenostrum.org

Pontes, M., 2007 (Jun 26) Piseinotecus gabinieri - rings on rhinophores. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20009

Dear Miquel,

Schmekel & Portmann (1982) describe the rhinophores as 'finely annularly wrinkled, the wrinkles discernible even when the tentacles are fully stretched'. I guess its a  matter of opinion whether I can see traces of rings in the close-up of your photo alongside or not. Presuming all these animals are one species, it seems to me that there is some variation. Obviously rings are going to be more noticeable if the rhinophores are a bit contracted, but it seems that in some specimens the rings are not that obvious even when the rhinophores are contracted. Perhaps the rings are more obvious in smaller specimens? Schmekel & Portmann state that the species has a maximum length of 6 mm, yet your animal was 4 times that size. Having a quick look at the Forum photos, yours and a 30 mm long specimen from Baki Yokes [#7071] are the two biggest specimens on the Forum and they are the two in which wrinkles are least obvious.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jun 26). Comment on Piseinotecus gabinieri - rings on rhinophores by Miquel Pontes. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20009

Factsheet

Piseinotecus gabinierei

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