Dolabrifera brazieri, G. B. SOWERBY II, 1870

Valdés, Ángel, Breslau, Eric, Padula, Vinicius, Schrödl, Michael, Camacho, Yolanda, Malaquias, Manuel António E., Alexander, Jennifer, Bottomley, Morgan, Vital, Xochitl G., Hooker, Yuri & Gosliner, Terrence M., 2018, Molecular and morphological systematics of Dolabrifera Gray, 1847 (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Heterobranchia: Aplysiomorpha), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 184, pp. 31-65 : 44-45

DOLABRIFERA BRAZIERI G. B. SOWERBY II, 1870

( FIGS 3H, 7–9)

Dolabrifera brazieri G. B. Sowerby II, 1870: 250 . Type locality: Northhead , Botany Bay, Australia.

? Dolabrifera jacksoniensis Pilsbry, 1896: 120–121 , pl. 44, figs 38–41. Type locality: Port Jackson , Australia.

Type material

Dolabrifera brazieri G. B. Sowerby II, 1870 , possibly syntype at NHMUK 1877.5.12.91.

Dolabrifera jacksoniensis Pilsbry, 1896 , syntypes at ANSP 64931 (dry) and A7040 (wet).

Material examined

Lord Howe Island , New South Wales, Australia (31°32.94′S 159°03.72′E), 1887, six specimens, 32–45 mm preserved length ( AM C.54298). Boat Cove , Raoul Island , Kermadec Islands , New Zealand (29°16.79898′S, 177°53.66268′W), 14 May 2011, 0.25 m depth, one specimen, 39 mm preserved length ( AM C.475882). NW corner of North Meyer Island, Kermadec Islands, New Zealand (29°14.4984′ S, 177°52.6734′W), 5–15 m depth, 13 May 2011, one specimen 45 mm preserved length ( AM C.475783) .

Description

External morphology: Body up to 150 mm long, oval to elongate, flattened. Dorsum covered with large, blunt, rounded to semi-conical tubercles, each with retractile, ramified, papilla on apex; large tubercles typically surrounded by smaller rounded tubercles ( Fig. 3H). Rhinophores enrolled, elongated. Oral tentacles wide, flattened, enrolled, with narrower bases. Parapodia fused together except for short region in posterior midline, forming two small flaps. Flaps partially overlapping in middle (right parapodium partially covers left one), allowing enough space anteriorly for inhalant opening and posteriorly for exhalant siphon to protrude. External sperm groove clearly visible on right side of animal, between mantle cavity and base of right oral tentacle.

External coloration: Background colour variable, typically brown or greenish-brown, sometimes pale grey or nearly black, with irregular darker, lighter areas. Dorsum often covered with dark brown network of anastomosing lines surrounding tubercles, which do not penetrate mantle margin, rhinophores. Mantle margin typically green, with whitish spots.

Digestive system: Radular formulae: 33 × 92.1.80 ( AM C.54298); radulae asymmetrical, with more teeth in one half-row. Rachidian teeth with robust central cusp, two large denticles on each side ( Fig. 7A); teeth wider at base, both upper and lower ends of teeth convex. Lateral teeth elongate ( Fig. 7B), with long bases; each cusp with proximal and distal elongate denticle on inner side, apex blunt, simple. Outer teeth very elongate ( Fig. 7C), with bifurcate apices. Jaws with simple, irregular denticles ( Fig. 7F). Post-radular armature with numerous spines with elongate bases, triangular cusps ( Fig. 7G). Gizzard plates variable in shape, typically irregular, with some striations more visible near the centre ( Fig. 7D).

Shell: Shell flat, well calcified, oval ( Fig. 8); nucleus conspicuous, formed by single lobe connected to rest of shell by narrow area ( Fig. 7H, I). On apertural view with nucleus on upper end, left side of shell straight, sometimes slightly concave or convex. Right side of shell convex, narrower near nucleus, widening gradually near mid-length. Widest portion of shell mid-length or slightly forward. Sculpture of conspicuous growth lines.

Male reproductive system: Penial canal large, muscular, lacking tubercles, with two proximal retractor muscles, one on each side of opening into body wall ( Fig. 9B, C). Penial canal narrows and expands abruptly into elongate penial sheath section containing penial papilla. This section ends in large, strong retractor muscle connecting to ventral side of body wall internally. Penial papilla elongate, with curved cusp and longitudinal groove ( Fig. 9A).