Cuthona behrensi
Hermosillo & Valdes, 2007

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Tergipedidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known only from Azuero Peninsula, between the Gulf of Panama and the Gulf of Chiriqui , Panama, East Pacific.

PHOTO

Locality: Azuero Peninsula, 30 feet, Panama, tropical eastern Pacific, 01 May 2003, Under rocks. Length: 6 mm. Photographer: Ali Hermosillo.

Known only from a single specimen, 5 mm  long alive, this species has a translucent white body with bright opaque yellow tips to the cerata, and a bright yellow median line along the posterior part of the foot, behind the cerata. The smooth rounded rhinophores have a translucent white base and the upper two-thirds is bright yellow. The shorter oral tubercles are similarly coloured. Within the cerata, the digestive gland ducts are whitish with orange specks below the cnidosac.

  • Hermosillo A. & Valdés, A. 2007. Five new species of Aeolid nudibranchs (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia) from the Tropical Eastern Pacific. American Malacological Bulletin, 22: 119-137, 13 text figures, 1 color pl.
Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2007 (August 6) Cuthona behrensi Hermosillo & Valdes, 2007. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/cuthbehr

Related messages


Cuthona behrensi from the tropical eastern Pacific

August 6, 2007
From: Alicia Hermosillo

Dear Bill,
On the third instalment of the new aeolids from my paper I am sending you Cuthona behrensi. I found this species in Panama, between the Gulf of Panama and the Gulf of Chiriqui and have not found it again since.

Locality: Azuero Peninsula, 30 feet, Panama, tropical eastern Pacific, 01 May 2003, Under rocks. Length: 6 mm. Photographer: Ali Hermosillo.

The striking coloration made it easy to realize it was a new species, which we decided to name after our dear friend Dave Behrens.

I am sending you a picture and a drawing (to continue on with the art theme you got going with the beautiful Hypselodoris of the Caribbean (#20308 )) by Jan Kocian, who is a great artist and photographer. Visit his gallery and you will enjoy his art and humor. http://www.pnwscuba.com/critterwatchers/janscreations.htm

  • Hermosillo A. & Valdés, A. 2007. Five new species of Aeolid nudibranchs (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia) from the Tropical Eastern Pacific. American Malacological Bulletin, 22: 119-137, 13 text figures, 1 color pl.

Cheers!
Ali

gueri25@hotmail.com

Hermosillo, A., 2007 (Aug 6) Cuthona behrensi from the tropical eastern Pacific. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20386

Dear Ali,
This is one animal you wouldn't need your flouro lighting for - I find this pattern of white and bright yellow particularly startling - even for a nudibranch.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Aug 6). Comment on Cuthona behrensi from the tropical eastern Pacific by Alicia Hermosillo. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20386