Bursatella leachii

Bursatella leachii (de Blainville, 1817)

Bursatella leachii @ Ebro Delta (2007) by Boris Weitzmann

Taxonomy
 

Superdomain

Biota  

 

Kingdom

Animalia  

 

Phylum

Mollusca  

 

Class

Gastropoda  

 

Subclass

Heterobranchia  

 

Infraclass

Euthyneura  

 

Subterclass

Tectipleura  

 

Order

Aplysiida  

 

Superfamily

Aplysioidea  

 

Family

Aplysiidae  

 

Genus

Bursatella  

 

Species

Bursatella leachii  Blainville, 1817

 
 Classification according to Bouchet et al. (2017)
Taxonomic source: World Register of Marine Species (AphiaID: 138759).
Synonyms

  • Aclesia africana Engel, 1926
  • Aclesia glauca Cheeseman, 1878
  • Aclesia rosea Engel, 1926
  • Aplysia bursatella Rang, 1834
  • Bursatella lacinulata Gould, 1852
  • Bursatella leachi [sic]
  • Notarchus (Bursatella) leachii (Blainville, 1817)
  • Notarchus intrapictus Cockerell, 1893
  • Notarchus laciniatus Rüppell & Leuckart, 1830

Although Bursatella is a monophyletic genus containing only a single species Bursatella leachii, a wide range of colors and morphological variations has induced several authors to suggest that the global distribution comprises several distinct subspecies (Eales and Engel, 1935; Bebbington 1969):

  • Bursatella leachii Blainville, 1817
  • Bursatella leachii guineensis Bebbington, 1969
  • Bursatella leachii leachii Blainville, 1817
  • Bursatella leachii pleii (Rang, 1828)
  • Bursatella leachii savigniana Audouin, 1826
  • Bursatella leachii africana (Engel, 1926) (=Bursatella leachii Blainville, 1817)
  • Bursatella leachii lacinulata Gould, 1852 (=Bursatella leachii Blainville, 1817)
  • Bursatella leachii rosea (Engel, 1926) (=Bursatella leachii Blainville, 1817)

Description
With a maximum size of 25 cm (J.Prkić, pers.comm.), this species usually has a length of 8 to 10 cm. The body color is variable and has two different patterns, the greenish-brown dark pattern, and the greenish gray or whitish brown clear pattern. The body usually is decorated with round dark blotches and they usually have a colored spot, usually bright blue, in the middle. The body surface is covered with elongated and uneven extensions that give the body its typical appearance. The foot is wide with the head end separated in two, and a rounded rear end. The parapodia does not let it swim like other sea hares because they are fused together, leaving only a slit in the center of the dorsum that gives access to the mantle cavity. Adults lack any internal shell (Voss 1980, Kaplan 1988, Rupert and Fox 1988). In the head it has two rhinophores (olfactory tentacles) long and retractile and two oral tentacles, one on each side of the mouth.

Biology
It is normally found in shallow waters with low hydrodynamics, so it is very common in lakes and harbors. In the Mediterranean it is found in soft bottoms with algae like Caulerpa prolifera, Cymodocea nodosa and Zostera noltii, where it feeds on green algae like Lyngbya majuscula that can form thick layers in mud bottoms, or coat -as an algal film- the mentioned macro-algae . They can also feed on diatoms and occasionally on macrophytes like Ectocarpus or Enteromorpha (Paige, 1988). The spawn is a cord, with a highly variable color (orange, brown, yellow or green), formed by egg capsules that may contain between 1 and 20 eggs with a diameter of 87 micron each (Paige 1988). After hatching, the larvae become part of the plankton. The larvae probably only attach to the substrate in the presence of blue-green algae from which they can feed. Juveniles reach sexual maturity at 2-3 months of age (Paige 1988). At least in some areas this species has continued recruitment, without a clearly defined breeding season (Clarke 2004). Paige (1988) observed that embryonic development was normal at temperatures between 20 and 30ºC, but stopped at 15 ° C. The presence of Bursatella leachii in a variety of oceanic and estuarine habitats suggests that it also has some tolerance to salinity fluctuations. It has a high tolerance to low quality water, so it survives in highly polluted environments. The first specimens of Bursatella leachii found in the Mar Menor (Levante, Spain) were detected in 2008; in 2010 and 2011 there was a population bloom. There have been reported densities of up to 660 individuals per square meter (Paige, 1988), that  are probably due to optimal environmental conditions: good larvae supply, abundant food, and favorable tides, currents and weather conditions (Rudman, Sea Slug Forum). There are also episodes of mass mortality, where hundreds of thousands of specimens appear on the coast after being swept away by the waves, storms and tides after periods of extreme temperatures. Under normal conditions it is believed that this species can live a little over one year.
It is believed to be capable of sequestering secondary metabolites (like lyngbyatoxin-a with cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties) from the algae it feeds on (Capper et al., 2005), and concentrate it on a series of skin glands for its self-protection. It may expel a small cloud of purple ink when disturbed (Paige 1988). An anti-HIV protein (bursatellanin-P), has been isolated from the purple ink secretion, but it is still pending to find any feasible biomedical application related to this discovery (Rajaganapathi et al., 2002; Avila, 2006) .
Basically with a daily behavior, specimens tend to concentrate at night, scattering around every morning to feed.

Etymology

  • BursatellaDerived from Latín “bursa”, bag; because of the globous shape of the body.
  • Leachii. Dedicated to Dr. William Elford Leach, (1791-1836), an English zoologyst and naturalyst characterized by his “most indomitable enthusiasm and very extraordinary acquirements”.

Distribution
Its distribution range is circumtropical, living in all tropical and temperate seas between 40ºN and 40ºS (Lowe and Turner 1976). The first cite for the Mediterranean was in Israel (O’Donoghue & White, 1940) and since then it has been found in Turkey, Greece, Italy and only recently on the Mediterranean coast of France (Cagnes sur Mer, Nice, by B. Riondy, DORIS 2014) and Spain, where it has been cited in the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Oliver & Terrasa, 2004), Levante (Alicante and Aguilas) and Catalonia. The first observation in Catalan waters (Weitzmann et al., 2007) took place in the Ebro delta, where it is well established in shallow meadows of Cymodocea nodosa and Caulerpa prolifera, and it seems that it has expanded its distribution northward with specimens detected at Vilanova i la Geltrú in 2011 and Barcelona in 2012 (Weitzmann, pers. comm.) and 2018 (Parera et al. 2020; Pontes et al. 2021). First detected in Eastern Mediterranean in 1940, it was asumed these specimens were lessepsian (of Red Sea origin), however Bazzicalupo et al (2018) demonstrated they were of Atlantic origin after performing molecular studies on Mediterranean specimens.

Known georeferenced records of the species: Bursatella leachii
Sources:
: OBIS
: GROC 2010-2011
: Enric Madrenas
: João Pedro Silva
: Bernard Picton
: GBIF.ORG
: OPK
: VIMAR
: Manuel Ballesteros.
: M@re Nostrum
: Altres fonts
: Marine Regions

Abundance

    Western Mediterranean: ★☆☆☆☆
    Eastern Mediterranean: ★★☆☆☆
    Atlantic Ocean: ★☆☆☆☆
Month

This chart displays the monthly observation probability for Bursatella leachii based on our own records.

Videos

 

More pictures

Bibliography

    Appleton DR, Sewell MA, Berridge MV, et al. 2002. A new biologically-active malyngamide from a New Zealand collection of the sea hare Bursatella leachii. Journal of Natural Products 65:630-631.
    Avila C. 2006. Molluscan natural products as biological models: chemical ecology, histology, and  laboratory culture, pp. 1-23. In: Guido Cimino & Margherita Gavagnin, (Eds.). Molluscs: from  chemo-ecological study to biotechnological application. [Progress in Molecular & Subcellular Biology  (Subseries: Marine Molecular Biotechnology) 43.]. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg & New York,  i-xix, 1-387 pp.
    Ballesteros M, Madrenas E, Pontes M. 2016. Actualización del catálogo de los moluscos opistobranquios (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) de las costas catalanas. Spira. 6:1–28.
    Ballesteros M, Madrenas E, Pontes M. 2023. OPK - Opistobranquis. Available from https://opistobranquis.info/.
    Ballesteros M, Pontes M, Álvarez G, et al. 2023. The hidden life of coastal cities. The case of marine biodiversity in Barcelona (Spain). Available from https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.16154.52165.
    Ballesteros M, Pontes M, Álvarez G, et al. 2023. La vida oculta de las ciudades costeras: El caso de la biodiversidad marina en Barcelona (España). VIMAR Vida Marina. Available from https://vidamarina.info/?p=5451.
    Bazzicalupo E, Crocetta F, Estores-Pacheco K, et al. 2018. Population genetics of Bursatella leachii (De Blainville, 1817) and implications for the origin of the Mediterranean population. Helgoland Marine Research. 72(19):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s10152-018-0521-7.
    Bazzicalupo E, Crocetta F, Gosliner TM, et al. 2020. Molecular and morphological systematics of Bursatella leachii de Blainville, 1817 and Stylocheilus striatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1832 reveal cryptic diversity in pantropically distributed taxa (Mollusca : Gastropoda : Heterobranchia). Invert. Systematics. 34(5):535–538. https://doi.org/10.1071/IS19056.
    Bebbington A. 1969. Bursatella leachi guineensis subsp. nov. (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia) from Ghana. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London 38: 323-341.
    Bebbington A. 1972. Aplysiid species from Malta with notes on the Mediterranean Aplysiomorpha (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia). Pubbl. Staz. Zool. Napoli 38(1):25-46.
    Bello G. 1989. Galleggiamento in acquario degli opistobranchi Bursatella leachi Blainville e Peltodoris atromaculata Bergh. Bollettino Malacologico (Pubblicazione Mensile Edita dalla Societa Italiana di Malacologia) 25(9-12):363- 366.
    Bello G. 1982. Su alcuni ritrovamenti di Bursatella leachii savignyana (Audouin) (Opisthobranchia, Aplysiidae) presso le coste italiane. Bollettino Malacologico, 18 (7-8):175-176.
    Betti F, Bavestrello G, Cattaneo-Vietti R. 2021. Preliminary evidence of fluorescence in Mediterranean heterobranchs. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 87:eyaa040. https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyaa040.
    Bielecki S, Cavignaux G, Crouzet JM, et al. 2011. Des limaces de rêve.
    Caballer M, Ortea J, Rivero N, et al. 2015. The opisthobranch gastropods (Mollusca: Heterobranchia) from Venezuela: an annotated and illustrated inventory of species. Zootaxa 4034 (2): 201–256.
    Capper A, Tibbetts IR, O’Neil JM, et al. 2005. The fate of Lyngbya majuscula toxins in three potential consumers. Journal of Chemical Ecology 31:1595-1606.
    Carlini DB, Regan JD. 1995. Photolyase Activities of Elysia tuca, Bursatella leachii, and Haminaea antillarum (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia). J. Exper. Mar. Biol. & Ecol. 189(1-2):219-232.
    Catalano E, Parrinello N, De Leo G. 1978. Nuovi dati sulla penetrazione nel mar Mediterraneo di Bursatella leachii savignyana Audouin, 1826 (Gastropoda Opisthobranchia). Ritrovamento nel Golfo di Palermo. Mem. Biol. Mar. Oceanogr.,8 (5):123-128.
    Cervera JL, Calado G, Gavaia C, et al. 2004. An annotated and updated checklist of the opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Spain and Portugal (including islands and archipelagos). Boletín Instituto Español de Oceanografía, 20 (1-4): 1-111. L.
    Cesari P, Mizzan L, Motta E. 1986. Rinvenimento di Bursatella leachi leachi Blainville, 1817 in Laguna di Venezia. Prima segnalazione adriatica (Gastropoda Opistobranchia). Lavori Soc. Ven. Sc. Nat., 11: 5-16.
    Çevik C, Gündoğdu S. 2016. Marine mollusca of Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Turkish Marine Research Foundation 43: 184-197.
    Chapman DL DJ Fox. 1969. Bile pigment metabolism in the sea-hare, Aplysia. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 4:71-78.
    Çinar ME, Bilencenoglu M, Ozturk B, et al. 2005. Alien species on the coasts of Turkey. Medit. Mar. Sci, 6/2, 2005, 119-146. Available from http://www.medit-mar-sc.net/index.php/marine/article/viewFile/187/187.pdf.
    Çinar ME, Bilecenoglu M, Öztürk B, et al. 2011. An updated review of alien species on the coasts of Turkey. Mediterranean Marine Science, 12(2): 257-315.
    Clarke CL. 2004. The Ecological Role of Sea hares (Opisthobranchia: Anaspidea) Within Tropical Intertidal Habitats. James Cook University School of marine Biology and Aquaculture. 142 p.
    Coleman N. 2001. 1001 Nudibranchs: Catalogue of Indo-Pacific Sea Slugs. Neville Coleman’s Underwater Geographic Pty Ltd, Australia. 144 p.
    Córdoba D, Enguídanos, Valdés Á, et al. 2023. Where do I come from? Phylogenetic analysis of Bursatella leachii Blainville, 1817 (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from the Catalonian coast (NE Spain). Cahiers de Biologie Marine. 64:325–336. https://doi.org/10.21411/CBM.A.72CAEE19.
    Crocetta F. 2011. Marine alien mollusca in Italy, a review. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2012, 92(6), 1357–1365. https://doi.org/10.1017/S002531541100186X.
    Crocetta F, Pontes M. 2017. Bursatella leachii in Cyprus [in] Lipej et al. (2017) New Mediterranean Biodiversity records (March 2017). Medit. Mar. Sci., 18/1, 2017, 198.
    Crocetta F, Zibrowius H, Bitar G, et al. 2013. Biogeographical homogeneity in the eastern Mediterranean Sea - I: the opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Lebanon. Mediterranean Marine Science, Vol 14, no.2.
    Crocetta F, Renda W, Vazzana A. 2009. Alien mollusca along Calabrian shores of the Messina Strait area and a review of their distribution in the Italian seas. Boll. Malacol., 45: 15-30.
    Daskos A, Zenetos A. 2007. Additions to the knowledge of alien Opisthobranchia of Greece. Aquatic Invasions 2(3): 258-260.
    de Blainville HM. 1817. [In] Cuvier F. (ed.), 1804-1845. Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles dans lequel on traite méthodiquement des différens êtres de la nature. Levrault, Strasbourg & Le Normant, Paris.
    De la Cruz-Francisco V, Ortigosa D, González González M. 2017. Primeros registros de babosas marinas (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) del Sistema Arrecifal Tuxpan, México, con ampliaciones de ámbito de distribución. Biodiversity and Natural History (2017) Vol. 3, No. 1, 15-23.
    Debelius H. 1996. Nudibranchs and Sea Snails: Indo-Pacific Field Guide. IKAN-Unterwasserarchiv, Frankfurt, Germany, 321 pp, 1000+ color illus.
    Deliceirmak Ç, Fuller WJ. 2017. First record of the Bursatella leachii de blainville, 1817 from Cyprus. International Journal of Current Research, 9, (08), 55497-55498.
    Doneddu M. 2010. Primi rinvenimenti di Bursatella leachii de Blainville, 1817 e Fulvia fragilis (Forskål, 1775) nel Golfo di Olbia (Sardegna nord-orientale) Bollettino Malacologico 46 (2): 104-109, Napoli.
    Eales NB, Engel H. 1935. The genus Bursatella De Blainville. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London 21: 279-303, plate 31.
    Fasulo G, Perna E, Toscano F. 1984. Prima segnalazione di Bursatella leachii savignyana Audouin, 1826 per il Golfo di Napoli. Boll. Malacologico 20(5-8): 161-163.
    Frank, B. et al. 1998 2014. Bursatella leachii accessed through: JaxShells.org on 2014-12-14. Available from http://www.jaxshells.org/pete6018a.htm.
    Furfaro G, Vitale F, Licchelli C, et al. 2020. Two Seas for One Great Diversity: Checklist of the Marine Heterobranchia (Mollusca; Gastropoda) from the Salento Peninsula (South-East Italy). Diversity. 12(12):171.
    Gerovasileiou V, El Sayed HKhA, Akyol O, et al. 2017. New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records (July 2017). Mediterranean Marine Science 18(2):355-384. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.13771.
    Goodheart JA, Ellingson RA, Vital XG, et al. 2016. Identification guide to the heterobranch sea slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Bocas del Toro, Panama. Marine Biodiversity Records. 9(1):56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41200-016-0048-z.
    Henry LM. 1952. Observations on the sea hare Bursatella leachii plei Rang. Fla State Univ. Stud. 7: 8-14.
    Humann P, DeLoach N. 2010. Reef creature identification : tropical Pacific. Jacksonville, Fla.: New World Publications.
    Ibáñez-Yuste AJ, Garrido-Díaz A, Espinosa-Torre F, et al. 2012. Primera cita del molusco exótico Bursatella leachii de Blainville, 1817 (Mollusca: opistobranchia) en el litoral mediterráneo andaluz. Chronica naturae, 2, 25-31.
    Imamoto J. 2001 2014. Bursatella leachii accessed through: Umiushi.info on 2014-12-14. Available from http://www.umiushi.info/kanri/photo_sql_eng.php?act=PSP&gakumei1=Bursatella&gakumei2=leachii&location_code=0000#.
    Jaklin A, Vio E. 1989. Bursatella leachii Gastropoda Opisthobranchia in the Adriatic Sea. J. Molluscan Stud. 55(3):419-420. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 55:419–420. https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/55.3.419.
    Kamiya H, Sakai R, Jimbo M. 2006. Bioactive molecules from sea hares. Progress in Molecular and Subcellular Biology 43:215-239.
    Kaplan EH. 1988. A Field Guide to Southeastern and Caribbean Seashores: Cape Hattaras to the Gulf Coast, Florida, and the Caribbean. Houghton Mifflin Company, NY (Peterson Field Guide Series). 425 p.

    Bibliography based on the works by Steve Long, 2006. Bibliography of Opisthobranchia 1554-2000 and Gary McDonald, 2009. Bibliographia Nudibranchia, with later updates from other resources.

Further reading

Cite this article as:

Ballesteros, M., Madrenas, E. & Pontes, M. (2023) "Bursatella leachii" in OPK-Opistobranquis. Published: 15/05/2012. Accessed: 19/03/2024. Available at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/?p=369)

To copy this cite click on the right button.