Okenia miramarae Ortea & Espinosa, 2001
Superdomain | Biota | |
Kingdom | Animalia | |
Phylum | Mollusca | |
Class | Gastropoda | |
Subclass | Heterobranchia | |
Infraclass | Euthyneura | |
Subterclass | Ringipleura | |
Superorder | Nudipleura | |
Order | Nudibranchia | |
Suborder | Doridina | |
Infraorder | Doridoidei | |
Superfamily | Onchidoridoidea | |
Family | Goniodorididae | |
Genus | Okenia | |
Species | Okenia miramarae Ortea & Espinosa, 2000 | |
Classification according to Bouchet et al. (2017) Taxonomic source: World Register of Marine Species (AphiaID: 420611). |
Species with a white opaque body, translucent on the periphery. All the body processes, the rhinophores and the gills have yellow or orange colored tips. In the anterior part of the body there is a cephalic veil with four appendages, two located in the anterior part, and two flanking the rhinophores by the outer side. At the sides of the body there are two or three appendages, the anterior ones are similar to those of the head, and two very long ones flanking the gill. In front of the gill there is an appendix of similar length to the ones on the front, arranged vertically on the body. The rhinophores are relatively long and have about eight lamellae on the posterior side, more evident in the basal part, and decreasing in size towards the apex, where they look like mere thickenings of the stem. The gill is composed by four unipinnate leaves coming out of three peduncles, since the two inner leaves are joined at the base and share the peduncle. Each branchial leaf has 5-6 spaced lamellae which do not reach the apex. Behind the gill there is a pinkish-purple spot.
Biology
Although its food source is unknown, it is feasible that this species feeds of small bryozoans like other species of Okenia. The spawn consists of a little mass of small white eggs, attached to the substrate. The long appendages that flank the gill are very characteristic for this species, and when the animal is moving they stretch and surpass the end of the tail. In general the whole body of the animal and its appendages stretch and look more stylized when it moves, and contract when it is at rest.
Etymology
- Okenia. In honor to Prof. Dr. Ludwig Gilbert Lorenz Oken, (1779-1851), German natural phylosopher, editor of the journal “Isis” and published of the book “Lehrbuch der Naturgeschichte”.
- Miramarae, to the type locality for the species, Miramar quarter in La Habana, Cuba.
Distribution
After its original description in Cuban waters, only three other reports are known, all in Taliarte, Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), where this species seems to be well established.
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Abundance
Western Mediterranean: | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
Eastern Mediterranean: | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
Atlantic Ocean: | ★☆☆☆☆ |
More pictures
Bibliography
Further reading
Cite this article as:
Pontes, Miquel, Manuel Ballesteros, Enric Madrenas (2023) "Okenia miramarae" in OPK-Opistobranquis. Published: 19/11/2016. Accessed: 30/03/2023. Available at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/IZk2r)