Protaeolidiella atra explained

Protaeolidiella atra is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Pleurolidiidae.^[1]

Taxonomic history

This species was synonymised with Pleurolidia juliae by Rudman.^[2] A careful study by Carmona et al. using DNA sequencing showed that these were really two sister species and that they were not members of the family Aeolidiidae.

Distribution

This species was described from Kasajima, Sagami Bay, Japan. It is also known from Korea.^[3]

Description

Protaeolidiella atra is an aeolid nudibranch with a burgundy to black coloured body and numerous cerata with white tips. It is confused with Pleurolidia juliae in many works but can be distinguished by the lack of a dorsal white line on the body and more numerous, ungrouped cerata.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Rosenberg, G. (2015). Protaeolidiella atra. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-12-14
2. Rudman, W.B. (1990.) Protaeolidiella atra Baba, 1955 and Pleurolidia juliae Burn, 1966; one species, two families (Nudibranchia). Journal of Molluscan Studies, 56(4): 505-514.
3. Carmona. Leila. Pola. Marta. Gosliner. Terrence M.. Cervera. Juan Lucas. Protaeolidiella atra Baba, 1955 versus Pleurolidia juliae Burn, 1966: One or two species?. Helgoland Marine Research. January 2015. 10.1007/s10152-014-0422-3. free.
4. Shirai, Y., 2001 (Sep 23) Japanese Protaeolidiella atra (without a stripe). [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

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