29. Aplysia dactylomela Rang, 1828

(Figure 2 I)

Material examined. WYL, 1 spc., H = 60 mm, IVICCM000111. YL, 3 spcs, H = 50–120 mm, ZMBN 84916, ZMBN 84917. APV, 1 spc., H = 51 mm, IVICCM000078. CBM, 4 spcs, H = 20–101 mm, NRC. SPM, 3 spcs, H = 55–88 mm, NRC. CHC, 1 spc., PNC.

Ecology. Crawling on seagrass or rocky-muddy bottoms (1 m deep). This species release a purple fluid when disturbed.

Distribution. ABC Islands, Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts /St. Christopher, St. Martin / St. Maarten, USA, Virgin Islands, Venezuela (Valdés et al. 2006; Rios 2009; Miloslavich et al. 2010; Yidi & Sarmiento 2011. Punta Charagato, Cubagua island & La Galera, Margarita island: Rodriguez 1959. Isla Larga, South Island: Marcus & Marcus 1967a. Los Roques: Work 1969; Rosenberg 2009. Taguao, Las Salinas (Vargas), Chirimena (Miranda), Morrocoy National Park (Falcon), Mochima Bay & Golfo de Cariaco (Sucre), Margarita island (Nueva Esparta) & Los Roques: Rivero et al. 2003). Confined to the Atlantic Ocean, where it is common (Valdés et al. 2013).

Remarks. This is an Atlantic subtropical species (Valdés et al. 2013) characterized by a whitish-creamy colour with distinct black rings.