Dermatobranchus piperoides, Gosliner & Fahey, 2011

Gosliner, Terrence M. & Fahey, Shireen J., 2011, Previously undocumented diversity and abundance of cryptic species: a phylogenetic analysis of Indo-Pacific Arminidae Rafinesque, 1814 (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) with descriptions of 20 new species of Dermatobranchus, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 161 (2), pp. 245-356 : 331-332

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00649.x
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/761B2D60-4820-E206-0AD0-FA4DFD993C68
treatment provided by	Valdenar
scientific name	Dermatobranchus piperoides
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

DERMATOBRANCHUS PIPEROIDES View in CoL SP. NOV.

( FIGS 58F View Figure 58 , 72 View Figure 72 , 73 View Figure 73 )

Dermatobranchus sp. 14 Gosliner, Behrens & Valdés, 2008: 313, top photo.

Type material: Holotype: CASIZ 174168 , 1 km south of Casuarina , St. Leu, Reunion Island, 1 m depth, collected 21.iv.1989 by T. M. Gosliner . Paratypes: CASIZ 174169 , eight specimens, two dissected, 1 km south of Casuarina , St. Leu, Reunion Island, 1 m depth, collected 21.iv.1989 by T. M. Gosliner .

Geographical distribution: This species is known only from the west coast of Reunion Island (present study). Etymology: The specific name piperoides is a noun in apposition and comes from the Latin, Piper , the genus of black pepper, owing to the resemblance of the black markings on the notum of this species to ground pepper.

External morphology: The body shape of the living animal ( Fig. 58F View Figure 58 ) is short and triangular, flattened, and narrows at the posterior end. The foot projects only slightly beyond the distinct mantle margin. The notum is granular and lacks any traces of distinct ridges. The oral veil extends forward and has pointed corners. The widely spaced rhinophores are behind the oral veil. They have a series of longitudinal lamellae on the rounded club. The stalk does not narrow noticeably. Marginal sacs are visible along the mantle edge. There are no branchial or hyponotal lamellae. The genital opening is on the right side of the body, near the anterior quarter of the body. The anus is situated approximately one - third of the way to the posterior end of the body.

The ground colour of the dorsum, the oral veil, and the foot is opaque white. There are a few black spots of various sizes scattered in the submarginal area of the notum and a single black spot is also present on the centre of the oral veil. The rhinophoral lamellae are orange with a black rhinophoral apex. The oral veil has a large orange blotch on its anterior margin. The foot is uniformly opaque white.

Buccal armature: The jaws ( Fig. 72A View Figure 72 ) are elongate with one to two rows of highly divided denticles ( Fig. 72B View Figure 72 ) along the lower third of the jaw. The radular formulae of two paratypes ( CASIZ 174169) are 46 ¥ 6.1.1.1.6 and 44 ¥ 5.1.1.1.5. The rachidian teeth ( Fig. 72C, D View Figure 72 ) are broad with a broad base and an elongate, wide central cusp. The cusp is flanked by seven to nine elongate denticles on either side. The inner lateral tooth is extremely broad with 14–15 elongate denticles on the outer side of the central cusp. The next two to three laterals bear 8–12 denticles on the outer side of the sharp cusp. The outer two to three teeth lack denticles ( Fig. 72D, E View Figure 72 ).

Reproductive system: The reproductive organs are androdiaulic ( Fig. 73 View Figure 73 ). The ampulla is curved and saccate, branching to the female gland mass via a short oviduct and to a thick, convoluted prostatic vas deferens that terminates in a short, conical penial papilla. The papilla has an acutely pointed apex. The well-developed female gland mass is well differentiated into a large mucous gland and smaller albumen and membrane glands. Adjacent to the penis is a thin, straight vagina that leads to a relatively small

332 T. M. GOSLINER and S. J. FAHEY spherical or pyriform bursa copulatrix inside the folds of the female glands.

Remarks: Dermatobranchus piperoides is most similar to D. kokonas and the differences are described above under the Remarks for this species. This species is similar to other species with divided masticatory cusps and a long radula.