Herviella affinis
Baba, 1960
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Glaucidae
DISTRIBUTION
Known only from Japan.
PHOTO
Manazuru-coast Sagami Bay, Japan, Size approx 10mm, Depth: 0.3m (Intertidal), 10 Aug 2002. Photo: Jun Imamoto
Herviella, is a genus of about ten or so small species usually with black specks and a gold or orange band below the ceratal tip. The cerata are arranged in a series of sloping single rows down each side of the body. H. affinis is characterised by the colour of the rhinophores - black speckling on the lower half, a black median band, and a yellow upper half. Baba (1960) described the yellow as 'chrome yellow' which would suggest an opaque bright yellow. However the photos posted here fit Baba's description except for the yellow on the rhinophores which in this case is a translucent yellowish tinge rather than an opaque pigment. A species from east Africa, Herviella cloaca differs mainly in having a white upper half to the rhinophores.
References:
• Baba, K (1960): The genus Herviella and a new species, H. affinis, from Japan (Nudibranchia - Eolidacea). Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory 8(2, December), 303-305.
• Baba, K (1966): Record of Herviella albida n. sp. from Seto, Kii, Japan (Nudibranchia - Eolidoidea). Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory 13(5, February), 361-363,Pl.15.
• Baba, K (1966): The anatomy of Herviella yatsui (Baba, 1930) and H. affinis Baba, 1960 (Nudibranchia - Eolidoidea). Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory 14(April), 1-6,Pls.1-2.
• Burn, R F (1963): Descriptions of Australian Eolidacea Mollusca: Opisthobranchia). 1. The genera Catriona and Herviella. Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia, 7(6 December), pp.12-pp.20.
• Burn, R F (1967): Revision of the genus Herviella (Opisthobranchia: Eolidacea). Malacologia 6(1-2), 223-230.
• Marcus, Er; Burch,JB (1965): Marine euthyneuran Gastropoda from Eniwetok Atoll, western Pacific. Malacologia 3(2), 235-262.
• Rudman, W.B. (1980) Aeolid opisthobranch molluscs (Glaucidae) from the Indian Ocean and the south-west Pacific. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 68(2):139-172.
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (September 11) Herviella affinis Baba, 1960. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/hervaffi
