Bursatella leachii subspecies

January 12, 2007
From: Augusto Medeiros

Good morning,
I´m working on Bursatella leachii and, as you said, some authors have divided the world population of it into geographic subspecies. I´d like to know if there are papers that make the comparison between them and if you could tell me the name of all known B. leachii subspecies.

Thank you very much for your help
Augusto

augumed@gmail.com

Medeiros, A., 2007 (Jan 12) Bursatella leachii subspecies. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19181

Dear Augusto,
I would be interested to know what research you are doing and where. Concerning the subspecies of B. leachii,  Eales & Engel (1925) reviewed Bursatella worldwide and concluded there was only one species. They thought it would be convenient to recognise six subspecies but could give no clear definitions of each subspecies except to suggest geographic regions.

Bebbington (1969) proposed another subspecies for populations from Ghana and Nigeria, although there was already the 'subspecies', B. leachii rosea from West Africa. Bebbington also noted that Eales and Engel 'found it was not possible to give exact distinguishing characters for [each] subspecies, but noted that B. leachi leachi always had green ocelli while B. leachi africana is very woolly in appearance.'

It seems to me that the most woolly thing is the argument in support of the subspecies. Bebbington argued that his B. leachii guineensis was less woolly than the South African B. leachii africana, and that its dark colour differentiated it from the other west African subspecies, B. leachii rosea which is pinkish in colour. He also consider his new subspecies differed from the Pacific B. leachii leachii in having peacock blue eye spots rather than green.

From my observations and published accounts, the colour of eye spots can vary within a local population, as can the background colour and the degree of 'woolliness'. From my reading of the literature the only difference I can find is that the Caribbean form seems to lack the blue/green eyespots found in animals everywhere else in the world. If someone could confirm that it would be interesting. Other than that, I know of no consistent differences. Interestingly, Stylocheilus striatus, another widespread sea hare shows similar variability in background colour, 'woolliness' and colour of eyespots. I have been reluctant to list the 'subspecies' because I don't wish to encourage people who seem obsessed with publishing such lists. But in the interests of the free exchange of information here they are - but I don't support their use.

Bursatella leachii leachii de Blainville - Indo West Pacific
Bursatella leachii savigniana Audouin - Red Sea
Bursatella leachii africana (Engel) - South Africa
Bursatella leachii rosea (Engel) - West Africa
Bursatella leachii guineensis Bebbington - West Africa
Bursatella leachii pleii (Rang) - Caribbean region
Bursatella leachii lacinulata Gould - Brazil

  • Bebbington, A. (1969)  Bursatella leachi guineensis subsp. nov. (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia) from Ghana. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London, 38: 323-341.
  • Eales, N.B. & Engel, H. (1935) The genus Bursatella de Blainville. Proceedings of the Malacological Society, 21: 279-303.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jan 12). Comment on Bursatella leachii subspecies by Augusto Medeiros. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19181

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Bursatella leachii

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