Heterobranch sea slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Authors: Padula, Vinicius, Wirtz, Peter, Schrödl, Michael
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2014
• Subjects: South Atlantic Ocean
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315414000575; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315414000575

The small volcanic island of Ascension is situated in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, more than 1500 km from the coast of Africa, its nearest continental area. To date, eight ‘opisthobranch’ species were reported from the island. As a result of a recent survey, 10 species were found. Seven species are new records from Ascension: Platydoris angustipes (Mörch, 1863), Diaulula sp., Dolabrifera dolabrifera (Rang, 1828), Aplysia parvula Guilding in Mörch, 1863 and Caliphylla mediterranea A. Costa, 1867, and two new species: Phidiana mimica sp. nov. and Felimida atlantica sp. nov . Half of the species found have a wide geographical distribution, being not restricted to the Atlantic Ocean. However, traditional taxonomy based on few characters is probably masking complexes of species.