Nudibranchs

Okenia liklik

Gosliner, Terrence M. 2004. Phylogenetic systematics of Okenia, Sakishimaia, Hopkinsiella and Hopkinsia (Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae) with descriptions of new species from the tropical indo-Pacific. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 55(1-12):125-161.

Abstract

The anatomy of eight species of Okenia, four species traditionally placed in Hopkinsia and one species of Sakishimaia was examined. The descriptions of previously described species, Okenia pellucida, O. japonica, Hopkinsia rosacea, H. plana, H. pilosa, H. nakamotoensis and Sakishimaia kondoi were expanded from prior morphological studies. Six new species of Okenia are described from the Indo-Pacific tropics. Okenia brunneomaculata is described from specimens collected from Indonesia and the Philippines. Okenia purpureolineata is known only from Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. Okenia kendi is described from specimens from Indonesia and the Philippines. Okenia virginiae is described from South Africa and is also known from Oman. Okenia lambat is described from the Philippines. Okenia liklik is described based on specimens from Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. Preliminary phylogenetic studies reveal several important aspects about the relationships of these taxa. Collectively, these taxa appear to form a monophyletic Clade. Okenia mediterranea is the most basal taxon in the present analysis and is the sister group to all of the other taxa. Hopkinsia, Sakishimaia and Hopkinsiella are nested within Okenia in the analysis presented. The characteristics employed to distinguish Sakishimaia and Hopkinsiella from Hopkinsia are not distinctly different or represent autapomorphies or symplesiomorphies. Hopkinsia, when Sakishimaia and Hopkinsiella are included, constitutes a monophyletic taxon. However, maintenance of Hopkinsia as a distinct taxon renders Okenia paraphyletic. On this basis, Hopkinsia, Hopkinsiella and Sakishimaia are considered as synonyms of Okenia to preserve the monophyly of this oldest taxon.

Asteronotus mimeticus sp. nov.

Gosliner, Terrence M and Valdes, Angel. 2002. Sponging off of porifera: New species of cryptic dorid nudibranchs (Mollusca, Nudibranchia) from the tropical Indo-Pacific. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 53(5):51-61.

Abstract

Two new species of Asteronotus are described from the Indo-Pacific tropics. Asteronotus mimeticus sp. nov. is described from specimens collected in the Philippines, Palau, Australia, and Papua New Guinea. Asteronotus spongicolus sp. nov. is described from the three localities in Tanzania and one in northern Queensland, Australia. Both species are remarkably cryptic on their prey sponges. Asteronotus mimeticus is variable in its color and notal ornamentation, depending upon the sponge on which it is feeding. Both species differ from the only recognized species in the genus, A. cespitosus (van Hasselt, 1824) in their smaller body size, lack of regular ridges and rows of tubercles and differences in the radular morphology and reproductive system. In A. cespitosus the outermost radular tooth is elongate while in the two new species the outermost tooth is reduced to an ovoid plate. The accessory gland of A. cespitosus is regular in shape with a straight stylet while in the two new species the accessory gland is irregularly shaped with a curved stylet. Asteronotus mimeticus has a rounded body shape while A. spongicolus is more elongate and ovoid. In A. mimeticus, the inner radular teeth are usually devoid of denticles, but may rarely have 1-2 additional denticles on the outer side of the inner 14 radular teeth. In A. spongicolus the innermost tooth has 1-2 denticles on its inner side and the succeeding 7-11 teeth have 1-2 denticles on the outer side of the tooth. The outermost teeth of A. mimeticus are rounded ovoid plates while those of A. spongicolus are more quadrangular with an acute apex. The reproductive system of A. mimeticus has a bursa copulatrix that is smaller than the receptaculum seminis while in A. spongicolus the receptaculum is larger than the bursa. The genital atrium of A. mimeticus is shorter and narrower than that of A. spongicolus. The accessory spine of A. mimeticus has a narrow base and is gradually curved while in A. spongicolus the spine has a broad base with a sharply curved apex.

Aldisa williamsi sp. nov

Elwood, Hillary R., Valdes, Angel, Gosliner, Terrence M. 2000. Two new species of Aldisa Bergh, 1878 (Mollusca, Nudibranchia) from the tropical Indo-Pacific. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences . 52(14): 171-181.

Abstract

This paper provides descriptions of two new species of the genus Aldisa from the tropical Indo-Pacific. Aldisa albatrossae sp. nov. from Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia, is characterized by having a blue-green dorsum with distinctive black markings and blotches of yellow-orange color. Aldisa williamsi sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, has a bluish dorsum with a circular black mark. The two species are distinguishable based on differences in body coloration, arrangement of tubercles and characters of the reproductive system. Other species that have similar color patterns and also appear to be mimics of phylllidid nudibranchs are discussed. The new species appear to have two plesiomorphic traits that were previously undescribed for the genus Aldisa, unipinnate gills (only in A. williamsi), and presence of two large hamate radular teeth (in both species).

Halgerda dalanghita sp. nov.

Fahey, Shireen J. and Gosliner, Terrence M. 1999. Description of three new species of Halgerda from the Western Indian Ocean with a redescription of Halgerda formosa, Bergh 1880. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 51(8): 365-383.

Abstract

Three new species of Halgerda are described from the tropical Indo-Pacific. Halgerda dalanghita sp. nov. is known from South Africa, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. Halgerda dichromis sp. nov. is known from South Africa. Halgerda toliara sp. nov. is described from Madagascar. Comparison of the three new species is made with the original description and newly collected specimens of the type species, Halgerda formosa, Bergh 1880 and other described members of the genus. The coloration, reproductive system and the radular morphology of these new species differ significantly from H. formosa and other previously described Halgerda species. Specimens of Halgerda formosa have been misidentified as H. punctata Farran, 1905 in recent literature and are compared here. Although these two species share some characteristics, they differ significantly in external and radular morphology.

Halgerda albocristata sp. nov.

Gosliner, Terrence M. and Fahey, Shireen J. 1998. Description of a new species of Halgerda from the Indo-Pacific with a redescription of Halgerda elegans Bergh, 1905. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 50(15): 347-359.

Abstract

A new species of Halgerda, H. albocristata sp. nov. is described based on several specimens all having morphological similarities with H. elegans. Halgerda albocristata is known from Okinawa, Papua New Guinea, Guam, Marshall Islands and Indonesia. Comparison is made with the original description and newly collected material of Halgerda elegans Bergh, 1905 and with other described Halgerda species. The coloration, reproductive and the radular morphology of this new species differ significantly from H. elegans and other previously described Halgerda species. The presence of some anatomical consistencies and similar color patterns between H. elegans and H. albocristata suggests that the two species may be more closely related to each other than to some other members of the genus. However, a parsimony-based phylogenetic analysis has not been undertaken owing to lack of detailed anatomical data for many species, including the type species.

Taringa halgerda

Gosliner, Terrence M. and Behrens, David W. 1998. Two new Discodorid nudibranchs from the western Pacific with a redescription of Doris luteola Kelaart, 1858. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 50(11): 279-293.

Abstract

Two new species of discodorid cryptobranch Dorid nudibranchs are described from the tropical Indo-Pacific. Hoplodoris estrelyado is found from several localities in the western and central Pacific: Vietnam, Western Australia, Indonesia, Philippines and the Marshall Islands. It is the only member of the genus in which all of the radular teeth are denticulate. Taringa halgerda is known from Papua New Guinea, the Philippine Islands and Indonesia. It is similar in appearance to T. luteola, but differs in its coloration and tubercles and aspects of its internal anatomy. Taringa luteola (Kelaart, 1858) is redescribed and its systematic placement is discussed. Placement of the two species described here is regarded as tentative. Neither Hoplodoris estrelyado, Taringa luteola nor Taringa halgerda are placed with certainty in the genera where they are here assigned. They possess characteristics that are divergent from other described members of the genera Hoplodoris and Taringa. A major review and revision of Dorid genera is required. Phylogenetic analysis would clarify the relationships between and within taxa and would determine which taxa represent monophyletic groups. Systematic revisions would then be made to reflect these monophyletic units.

Chromodoris hintuanensis

Gosliner, Terrence M. and Behrens, David W. 1998. Five new species of Chromodoris (Mollusca: Nudibranchia: Chromodorididae) from the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 50(5):139-165.

Abstract

Five new species of Chromodoris are described from the tropical Indo-Pacific. Three of these, Chromodoris joshi, C. dianae and C. michaeli, are members of the Chromodoris quadricolor complex. Chromodoris joshi is known from the Philippines, Indonesia and the Andaman Sea, Thailand. Chromodoris dianae is commonly found in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. Chromodoris michaeli is known from the Philippine Islands of Luzon, Cebu and Mindanao. Chromodoris hintuanensis is known from the Ryukyu Islands, the Philippines, Indonesi , Papua New Guinea and Thailand. It is compared to two similar species, C. geometrica and C. conchyliata. Chromodoris roboi is known from the Ryukyu Islands and Lord Howe Island and Western Australia and is similar in color pattern to C. vibrato and C. aureopurpurea. Consistent patterns of radular morphology, mantle gland arrangement and reproductive anatomy suggest that members of the Chromodoris quadricolor complex may be closely related phylogenetically in addition to having a similar color pattern.

Eels

Callechelys papulosa n. sp

McCosker, John E. 1998. A revision of the snake-eel genus Callechelys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of two new Indo-Pacific species and a new Callechelyin genus. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 50(7):185-215.

Abstract

Species of the tropical snake-eel genus Callechelys, family Ophichthidae, subfamily Ophichthinae, are reviewed. An identification key for the species of the tribe Callechelyini and synonymies, illustrations, and diagnoses are provided for each of the valid species of Callechelys: C. bilinearis, C. bitaeniata, C. catostoma, C. cliffi, C. eristigilia, C. galapagensis, C. guineensis, C. leucoptera, C. lutea, C. marmorata, C. muraena, and C. springeri. Callechelys papulosa n. sp. is described from Papua, New Guinea, and differs in its morphometry, coloration, and vertebral number. Callechelys randalli n. sp. is described from Fatu Hiva, Marquesas, and differs from the closely-related C. catostoma in its body elongation and higher vertebral numbers. A neotype for C. catostoma is designated. Callechelys striatus Smith is synonymized with C. catostoma. Callechelys sibogae Weber is referred to Bascanichtltys and C. maculata Chu , Wu and Jin is provisionally referred to Yirrkala. The status of all nominal species of Callechelys is confirmed. Xestochilus gen. nov. is erected for Callechelys nebulosus Smith; it differs from other callechelyins in the unique condition of its snout, lips, dentition, and branchiostegal rays. Its range is extended to include Polynesia, Micronesia, Indonesia and the Red Sea. The distribution of C. catostoma is extended to Hawaii, the western Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea.

Neenchelys daedalus sp. nov.

McCosker, J.E.1982. A new genus and 2 new species of remarkable pacific worm eels: Ophichthidae subfamily Myrophinae. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 43(5):59-66.

Abstract

Glenoglossa wassi gen. et sp. nov., described from Samoa, differs from all other Myrophine ophichthids in its elongated tongue decorated with a lure, and in certain osteological and cephalic pore conditions. Neenchelys daedalus sp. nov. is described from midwater-captured juveniles and adults from off New Guinea and the central Pacific, and represents the 2nd known midwater worm eel; it differs from its congeners in its extreme elongation and vertebral number. The status of the species of Pseudomyrophis and Neenchelys is discussed. An analytical key to the genera of the ophichthid subfamily Myrophinae is provided.

Uropterygius goslinei sp. nov.

McCosker, J. E. and Randall, J. E. 1977. 3 new species of Indo Pacific moray eel Pisces Muraenidae. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 41(3):161-168.

Abstract

New species of Indo-Pacific Muraenid eels, described and illustrated, are Gymnothorax breedeni sp. nov., an eel from moderate depth reefs, from the Comoro, Amirante, Maldive, Marquesas and Line islands; Uropterygius kamar sp. nov., a deep-reef, burrowing eel from the Comoro, Amirante, Society, Solomon, Caroline and Pitcairn islands; and U. goslinei sp. nov. a shallow-reef from New Guinea, and the Caroline and Solomon islands.

Lizards

Lepidoactylus magnus
L. mutahi
L. novaeguinea
L orientales

Brown, W. C. and Parker, F. 1977. Lizards of the genus Lepidoactylus Gekkonidae from the Indo Australian Archipelago and the Islands of the Pacific with descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 41(8):253-266.

Abstract

An annotated list and a key to species of the genus Lepidodactylus recorded from the Indo-Australian Archipelago are presented: 4 new species (L. magnus, L. mutahi, L. novaeguinea and L. orientales ) from New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are described. The relationships and distribution of the species are discussed.

Sharks

Gogolia filewoodi

Comagno, L. J. V. 1973. Gogolia filewoodi, new genus, new species. A new genus and species of shark from New Guinea. Carcharhiniformes Triakidae with a redefinition of the family Triakidae and a key to Triakid genera. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 39(19):383-410.