What is Bornella japonica?

September 5, 2001
From: Mike An

Dear Dr. Rudman
I am Korean and I was wondering whether Bornella japonica is a synonym of Bornella stellifer, or a different species? In my web search it looks like they are the same but some Japanese web sites are using this name.

Thank you very much
Best regards
Mike An

kalapati@kornet.net

An, M., 2001 (Sep 5) What is Bornella japonica?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5209

Dear Mike,
This is another of the many little puzzles that still need to be sorted out. Have a look at my discussion on the 'differences' between the two species at the top of this page. Basically Dr Baba considered they were the same in colour but differed in a number of external and internal features. For example B. stellifer has about 6 pairs of dorsolateral processes while B. japonica has 3. What we need to see is some more photos of Bornella to see if these differences in similar sized animals are consistent. When you look at websites you should realise that the identifications are not always correct - so photos you have seen identified as B. japonica may in fact be B. stellifer. It doesn't necessarily mean that B. japonica is not a good species, but until we see some good photos which fit Baba's description we cannot be sure. There is one photo I have seen on Japanese website by Hideyuki Takasu which is identified as B. japonica and fits Baba's description in having only 3 pairs of dorso-lateral processes. Unfortunately it is not clear enough to see other details. It is at http://homepage2.nifty.com/nudibranchs/e/umiusi/n_dendronotina/yamato.html

Perhaps you would like to send some information on you and your work for the Participants List.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Sep 5). Comment on What is Bornella japonica? by Mike An. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5209

Factsheet

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