Favorinus elenalexiae from Bahia de Banderas

August 12, 2002
From: Alicia Hermosillo

Dear Dr. Rudman,
I was reading your Species List and noticed you do not have Favorinus elenalexiae, so here it is.

It was described in 2001. There is a problem with the name for 2 reasons:
First: the authors (Garcia y Troncoso) mention 2 different versions of the name F. elenalexiae and F. enelaleixa this error is clarified in a later note giving the correct name as F. elenalexiae.
Second: the right latin ending for two female names is -arum, nor -iae (this is Hans Bertsch´s information).

Still, the name of the species is Favorinus elenalexiae and as with other Favorinus, feeds on other nudibranchs eggs. I have seen specimens immersed inside big egg masses like those of Pleurobranchus areolatus, pretty neat. I seem to find it more at night, it is rather common.

Photo: 10mm long, 30 feet deep, May 5th 2002 in Islas Marietas, Bahia de Banderas, Pacific Coast of Mexico.

• Garcia, F.J. & Troncosa, J.S., 2001 Favorinus elenalexiae, a new species (Opisthobranchia: Aeolidiidae) from the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Nautilus, 115(2): 55-61 figs 1-7.
• Garcia, F.J. & Troncosa, J.S., 2001. Correction of a mistake introduced in the description of an aeolid nudibranch of the genus Favorinus Gray, 1850. The Nautilus, 115(4): 150.

Alicia

gueri25@hotmail.com

Hermosillo, A., 2002 (Aug 12) Favorinus elenalexiae from Bahia de Banderas. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7696

Thanks Ali,
It has very distinctive rhinophores, much like those of Favorinus tsuruganus. Does it always have these bright pink digestive gland ducts or do they vary in colour depending on the colour of the eggs it feeds on?

Concerning it feeding on the eggs of Pleurobranchus areolatus. I think there is some confusion over the identity of this species, P. albiguttatus and P. atlanticus in the Caribbean and east Pacific, so it would be quite nice to have some photos of what you are calling P. areolatus on the Forum for reference.

Concerning the nomenclatural problem over the name. This species was named after the author's daughters, and since they spelt their daughter's name correctly in the original paper [in Etymology] there is no question that 'elenalexiae' is the correct original spelling. Hans Bertsch is correct in stating that the ending is incorrect. As I have said elsewhere, I don't agree with the need for us to all be Latin scholars, but I am pretty sure the International Rules state that incorrect endings should be changed. I'll check it out and let you know.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Aug 12). Comment on Favorinus elenalexiae from Bahia de Banderas by Alicia Hermosillo. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7696

Factsheet

Favorinus elenalexiae

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    From: Bill Rudman, August 15, 2002
  4. Re: Favorinus elenalexiae from Bahia de Banderas
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