Cratena poshitraensis, Bharate & Padula & Apte & Shimpi, 2020

Bharate, Monisha, Padula, Vinicius, Apte, Deepak & Shimpi, Gaurav G., 2020, Integrative description of two new Cratena species (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) from western India, Zootaxa 4729 (3), pp. 359-370 : 364

Cratena poshitraensis sp. nov.

( Figures 2 A–B, 3A–B and 3E)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:12F30A89-1CD1-4AA2-B51E-8AB1BB037604

Cratena sp.2— Apte & Desai 2017: 424.

Type Material. Holotype: India, Gujarat, Poshitra, intertidal, collected by Deepak Apte, 24.11.2011, 25mm in length ( BNHS Opistho 665) . Paratypes: 2 specimens, collected with the holotype at type locality, 24.11.2011 ( BNHS Opistho 664) ; 5 specimens, collected at type locality by Vishal Bhave, 30.03.2010 ( BNHS Opistho 138) .

Additional material. INDIA: Gujarat, Poshitra , intertidal, 15 specimens, collected by Deepak Apte and Vishal Bhave, 11.12.2009 ( BNHS Opistho 42) .

Type locality. Poshitra , Gujarat, India (22°24’06.2”N 69°12’27.7”E) .

Etymology. This species is named after its type locality, the village of Poshitra, Gujarat, India.

Description. Aeolid up to 25 mm long alive, oral tentacles long, 1/3 to 1/2 of body length; rhinophores smooth; five groups of cerata, precardiac group in an arch, postcardiac groups in rows; gonopore below first group of cerata, anus anterior to second group of cerata. Body white; lateral foot, head region and basal 1/3 of the oral tentacles and rhinophores translucent white; eyes visible through the mantle, behind rhinophores; pair of rectangular yellowish orange spots laterally on head, between rhinophores and oral tentacles; spots a bit larger dorsally on the head; central 1/3 of rhinophores translucent orange, apical 1/3 cream; cerata translucent, digestive gland varying from deep purplish-red to orange in colour; distally dark red; cnidosac triangular, white ( Figure 2 A–B). Radula with 24 rachidian teeth (BNHS Opistho 665, 25mm specimen); teeth almost triangular, large prominent and triangular central cusp with semicircular base; central cusp smooth; up to six, exceptionally seventh in lateral cusps, first and outermost lateral cusps smaller than middle ones ( Figure 3 ); jaw plate roughly ovate, with a slight dorsal indentation, cutting edge projected in a short triangular area, denticulate border with a single row of elongate and bluntly pointed denticles; additional row of very small triangular denticles internally on cutting edge ( Figure 3 ). Ampulla large, wide and curved; seminal receptacle large; penis short and globular with a small accessory portion ( Figure 4A ).

Habitat. Found associated with the hydroid Pennaria disticha Goldfuss, 1820 ( Nagale & Apte 2014). Abundant from November to March.

Distribution. Poshitra, Porbandar, Dwarka, Okha and Veraval, state of Gujarat, India.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Living specimens. A–B. Cratena poshitraensis sp. nov., specimens from Poshitra, Gurajat, India. A. Not collected. B. Holotype (BNHS Opistho 665). C–D. Cratena pawarshindeorum sp. nov., specimens from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. C. Holotype (BNHS Opistho 178). D. Paratypes (BNHS Opistho 333a).

FIGURE 3. SEM micrographs. A–B. Rachidian teeth of Cratena poshitraensis sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 665). C–D. Rachidian teeth of Cratena pawarshindeorum sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 178). E. Masticatory border of the jaw of Cratena poshitraensis sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 665). F. Masticatory border of the jaw of Cratena pawarshindeorum sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 178).

FIGURE 4. Reproductive system. A. Cratena poshitraensis sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 665). B. Cratena pawarshindeorum sp. nov., holotype (BNHS Opistho 178). Abbreviations: am, ampulla; ap, accessory portion; dd, deferent duct; fg, female gland; pe, penis; va, vagina. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.