Runcina ornata
(Quatrefages, 1844)

Order: CEPHALASPIDEA
Superfamily: RUNCINOIDEA
Family: Runcinidae

PHOTO

Small, 2-3mm long. Found in tide pools (0.25m) on algae, Malta, August 1999. PHOTO: Constantine Mifsud

Very similar externally to Runcina coronata. The body is dark, almost black with a two pale yellow areas, one on each side of the head. The posterior end of the notum is also translucent colourless. There is a dark, almost black, median band on the posterior end of the foot, the edges being a translucent yellow. Cervera et al (1991) discuss how many authors have confused this species with Runcina coronata.

References:
• Thompson, T.E. (1980) New species of the bullomorph genus Runcina from the northern Adriatic Sea. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 46: 154-157.
• Cervera, J.L., Garcia-Gomez, J.C. & Garcia, F.J. (1981) The genus Runcina Forbes & Hanley, 1851 (Opisthobranchia: Cephalaspidea) in the Strait of Gibraltar, with the description of a new species from the Bay of Algeciras. Journal of Molluscan Studies 57: 199-208 (T.E. Thompson Memorial Issue).

See Constantine Mifsud's message and Lucas Cervera's reply.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (August 28) Runcina ornata (Quatrefages, 1844). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/runcorna