Home Guide to Opisthobranchs Nudibranchia Doridina Doridoidei Polyceroidea Polycera quadrilineata

Polycera quadrilineata

Polycera quadrilineata (O. F. Müller, 1776)

Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas

Taxonomy
 

Superdomain

Biota  

 

Kingdom

Animalia  

 

Phylum

Mollusca  

 

Class

Gastropoda  

 

Subclass

Heterobranchia  

 

Infraclass

Euthyneura  

 

Subterclass

Ringipleura  

 

Superorder

Nudipleura  

 

Order

Nudibranchia  

 

Suborder

Doridina  

 

Infraorder

Doridoidei  

 

Superfamily

Polyceroidea  

 

Family

Polyceridae  

 

Subfamily

Polycerinae  

 

Genus

Polycera  

 

Species

Polycera quadrilineata  (O. F. Müller, 1776)

 
 Classification according to Bouchet et al. (2017)
Taxonomic source: World Register of Marine Species (AphiaID: 140838).
Taxonomical note: Polycera quadrilineata has recently revealed to be part a group of several cryptic species with similar morphologies. Until 2020, morphotype of Polycera norvegica Sørensen, Rauch, Pola & Malaquias, 2020 was included within most published descriptions of P. quadrilineata. Korshunova et al (2021) published their work on Polycera quadrilineata complex, where four species from the European Atlantic shores were recognized, including a new species for science, Polycera kernowensis, based on a multidisciplinary (molecular, morphological, phylogenetic, phylogeographical and ecological) approach to species determination. In this work, the authors have treated the nudibranch species Polycera norvegica as a junior synonym of Polycera capitata (original designation: Thecacera capitata), but Malaquias et al (2022) show that, in accordance with the ICZN, Thecacera capitata (and in consequence also Polycera capitata) should be considered a nomen dubium, so they reinstate Polycera norvegica as the valid name for that species.

Synonyms

  • Doris quadrilineata O. F. Müller, 1776
  • Doris cornuta Rathke, 1806
  • Doris flava Montagu, 1804
  • Polycera lineatus Risso, 1826
  • Doris ornata (d’Orbigny, 1837)
  • Polycera ornata d’Orbigny, 1837
  • Polycera typica W. Thompson, 1840
  • Polycera varians M. Sars, 1840
  • Polycera mediterranea Bergh, 1879
  • Polycera quadrilineata mediterranea Bergh, 1879
  • Polycera nigropicta Ihering, 1885
  • Polycera quadrilineata nigropicta Ihering, 1886
  • Polycera nigrolineata Dautzenberg & Durouchoux, 1913
  • Polycera quadrilineata nigrolineata Dautzenberg & Durouchoux, 1913
  • Polycera salamandra Labbé, 1931

Description
The body reaches a maximum size of about 30 mm in length, with a reported maximum length of 45 mm (Sørensen et al., 2020), although in the Mediterranean they hardly exceed 20 mm (Pers.Obs.). Translucent white body, with orange or pink tones due to the digestive gland inside, visible by transparency. Mantle is smooth with a series of orange or yellow markings along the edge, from below the rhinophores to the large process on each side of the gills. The anterior part of the border often has a small triangular lateral projection that can sometimes be long enough to be confused with an oral veil process. The anterior border of the oral veil may have four, five, or up to seven, elongated yellow or orange processes. Below the veil the mouth is flanked by two ridges, which may be slightly yellow. Most specimens have yellow or orange-tipped body appendages, with a dorsal line of the same color on the upper part of the tail, and tuberculate markings (but not fine specks) of variable number and size aligned to form lines discontinuous (which may become continuous) along the body. There could be black markings, especially on the inner side of the base of the rhinophores. Some specimens have a lot of black pigment (which can be brownish or greenish) forming lines along the dorsum and body, which can merge and even mask the yellow line on the tail. The color pattern depends on the locality and the growth, since the darker color patterns develop with the age of the animal. The rhinophores have a smooth, transparent, unpigmented basal third, although it may be tinged with black, especially on the inner side. The upper two thirds of the rhinophores usually have between 11 and 17 lamellae, with yellow pigment mainly in the anterior part, the rear part does not have this pigment. The rhinophores are slightly curved backwards in their middle part. The gills are located behind the pericardium lump and are made of six or seven (sometimes up to 11) unipinnate leaves. In specimens with little or no dark pigment on the body, the gill blades are often translucent white with yellow or orange tips, but in specimens with some black body pigment, the gill is often spotted with these dark colors as well. The gills cannot retract into the body but can contract into a lump if the animal is disturbed. The genital opening is located on the right side of the animal, between the rhinophore and the gill. The anal papilla is located on the back, behind the base of the gills. The foot is translucent white, often with some small yellow markings. The sole is truncated and of translucent white color, it is wider towards the front and gradually tapers towards the tail. It has a pair of propodial tentacles with yellow tips. The tail has a dorsal midline, yellow or orange in color, which can also be seen through the sole by transparency.

Biology
P. quadrilineata lives at the infralittoral in rocky shores down to depths of 60 m. Largest specimens, easier to find, appear in February and March. Its diet consists of encrusting bryozoans such as Electra pilosa, Membranipora membranacea, Callopora dumerilii, Celleporella hyalina and Tegella unicornis. It is a simultaneous hermaphrodite. The spawn, shaped like a short, curved ribbon 2 mm high, is attached to the substratum by one of its rims, near or on top of the bryozoans on which it feeds. The spawn contains about 20,000 white eggs with a diameter of about 80 microns. Upon hatching, the veliger larvae (which still have a protective shell) live in plankton for some time before metamorphosing into tiny nudibranchs.

Etymology

  • Polycera. From Greek “polys”, many + “keras”, horn.
  • Quadrilineata. Four lined. From Latin “quadrus”, square, derived from “quattuor”, four + “līnea”, a string, linen thread, a fishing line, a plumbline, a bowstring, a line (geometry), an outline, sketch, a boundary line, and other similar meanings.

Distribution
P. quadrilineata is found from the Norwegian Arctic to the Mediterranean. It is common, and sometimes abundant, in certain places in early spring, mainly on rocky shores. In the Iberian Peninsula it has been cited in all coastal areas, also in Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira (Cervera et al., 2004). In the Catalan coast it has been found in several localities of the Costa Brava like Cala Sant Antoni, Es Caials, Cadaques, Roses, L’Escala, Llafranc, Aiguafreda, Aiguablava, Tossa de Mar, Blanes and Cala Sant Francesc, in the southern coast of Catalonia it has been found in the port of Vallcarca (Garraf), Sitges, Cubelles and Torredembarra.

Known georeferenced records of the species: Polycera quadrilineata
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 Polycera quadrilineata based on our own records.

Videos

 

More pictures

Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata by Enric Madrenas
Polycera quadrilineata (Atlantic)
Polycera quadrilineata @ UK by Bernard Picton
Radula de Polycera quadrilineata by Luis Sánchez-Tocino
Polycera quadrilineata (Portugal) by João Pedro Silva
Polycera quadrilineata (Portugal) by João Pedro Silva
Polycera quadrilineata (Portugal) by João Pedro Silva
Polycera quadrilineata laying eggs @ Portugal by João Pedro Silva
Polycera quadrilineata by Miquel Pontes
Polycera quadrilineata (Galicia) by Carlos Fernández-Cid
Polycera quadrilineata (white form) @ Mallorca by Lenka Juskaničová
Polycera quadrilineata @ Norway by Manuel Malaquías
Polycera quadrilineata @ Zierikzee, Netherlands 10-01-2017 by Stefan Verheyen
Polycera quadrilineata @ Sint Annaland, Netherlands 3-11-2016 by Stefan Verheyen
Polycera quadrilineata @ La Herradura, Granada, Spain 11-04-2017 by Stefan Verheyen
Polycera quadrilineata @ Netherlands 1-09-2017 by Stefan Verheyen
Polycera quadrilineata @ Netherlands 8-06-2017 by Stefan Verheyen
Polycera quadrilineata with extra rhinophores @ Netherlands 7-03-2017 by Stefan Verheyen
Polycera quadrilineata with spawn @ Netherlands 6-03-2017 by Stefan Verheyen
Polycera quadrilineata with spawn @ Netherlands 17-05-2017 by Stefan Verheyen
Polycera quadrilineata @ Netherlands 8-11-2018 by Stefan Verheyen
Polycera quadrilineata @ Ponton De La Bordelaise, Bassin De Thau by Pascal Girard
Polycera quadrilineata by Nani Díez
Polycera quadrilineata @ France by Pascal Girard
Polycera quadrilineata mating @ France by Pascal Girard
Polycera quadrilineata @ Costa Brava, Spain by Miquel Pontes
Polycera quadrilineata @ Costa Brava, Spain by Miquel Pontes
Polycera quadrilineata with egg spawn @ Costa Brava, Spain by Miquel Pontes
Polycera quadrilineata @ Costa Brava, Spain by Miquel Pontes
Polycera quadrilineata @ Granada por Luis Sánchez Tocino

Bibliography

    Abraham, P. S. 1877. Revision of the anthobranchiate nudibranchiate Mollusca with descriptions or notices of forty-one hitherto undescribed species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1877: 196-269 [agosto].
    Ackermann, C. n.d. Beiträge zur Physischen Geographie der Ostsee, ix + 399 pp., 5 pls. Otto  Meissner, Hamburg.
    Adams, A. A., and H. Adams. 1853. The genera of recent Mollusca, arranged according to their organization. London (van Voorst): pp.1-256, pls 1-32, 1853; 257-484, pls 33-60, 1854 (1); 1-92, pls 61-72, 1854; 93-284, pls 73-96, 1855; 285-412, pls 97-112, 1856; 413-540, pls 113-128, 1857; 541-661, pls 129-138, 1858 (2). vol 2; pp 45-78 Oct.-Nov. 1854; pp 97-99 Jan 1855; p 632-635 Nov 1858; pls. 62-68, 137, fig. 14; pl 138, fig. 1.
    Agersborg, H. P. v. 1921. Contributions to the knowledge of the nudibranchiate mollusk, Melibe leonina (Gould). Amer. Naturalist 55(638):222-253; 12 figs.
    Aguado, F., and S. López González. 2015. Moluscos Nudibranquios de la Costa Tropical. Asociación Buxus & Ayuntamiento de Motril.
    Alder, J. 1841. Observations on the genus Polycera with descriptions of two new British species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 6: 337-342, pl. 9 [gennaio].
    Alder, J. 1848. Catalogue of the Mollusca of Northumberland and Durham. Transactions of the Tyneside Naturalists’ Field Club 1:97-209, 358-365.
    Alder, J. 1869. Account of the British Nudibranchiata. Jeffrey’s British Conchology 5:18-94.
    Alder, J., and A. Hancock. 1851. Descriptions of two new species of nudibranchiate Mollusca, one of them forming the type of a new genus. With the anatomy of the genus by A. Hancock. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., series 2, 8:290-302, pls. 9-10.
    Alder, J., and A. Hancock. 1864. Notice of a collection of nudibranchiate Mollusca made in India by Walter Elliot Esq. with descriptions of several new genera and species. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 5 (3-4): 113-147.
    Alder, J., and A. Hancock. 1851. A monograph of the British nudibranchiate Mollusca: with figures of all the species. Ray Society, London.
    Alder, J., and A. Hancock. 1854. A monograph of the British nudibranchiate Mollusca: with figures of all the species. Ray Society, London.
    Alder, J., and A. Hancock. 1854. Notice of some new species of British Nudibranchiata. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 14: 102–105.
    Alder, J., and A. Hancock. 1845. Report on the British nudibranchiate Mollusca. Report 14th Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science; pp 24-29.
    Alder, J., and A. Hancock. 1855. A monograph of the British nudibranchiate Mollusca: with figures of all the species. Ray Society, London.
    Allen, E. J. 1899. On the fauna and bottom-deposits near the thirty-fathom line from the Eddystone  Grounds to Start Point. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 5(4):365.
    Anderson, J. 1999. Polycera quadrilineata accessed through: Scottish Nudibranchs on 2014-12-21. (http://www.nudibranch.org/Scottish Nudibranchs/polycera-quadrilineata.html).
    Avila, C. 1993. Sustancias naturales de moluscos opistobranquios: Estudio de su estructura, origen y función en ecosistemas bentónicos. Tesis Doctoral. Universitat de Barcelona.
    Ballesteros, M. 1982. Estado actual de la fauna de Doridaceos (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia) de las costas Catalanas. Oceanografia de la Mediterrania Occidental, Res. Com Oral Reunion Soc. Cat. Biologia, 2 pp.
    Ballesteros, M. 1984. Nudibranquios: miscelanea de formas y coloraciones. Immersio 3(4):20-24.
    Ballesteros, M. 1980. Contribución al conocimientos de los Sacoglosos y Nudibranquios (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia). Estudio anatómico, sistemático y faunístico de las especies del mediterráneo español. Tesis Doctoral.
    Ballesteros, M. 2007. Lista actualizada de los opistobranquios (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) de las costas catalanas. Spira. 2: 163–188.
    Ballesteros, M. 1991. Els Opistobranquis. pp. 416-427. In: Historia Natural dels Països Catalans,  Invertebrats no artròpodes. Enciclopèdia Catalana. Barcelona.
    Ballesteros, M., C. Álvarez, and B. Mateo. 1986. Aproximación a la fauna de opistobranquios de la isla de Menorca. Publicaciones del Departamento de Zoología (Barcelona) 12: 93-106.
    Ballesteros, M., J. Ortea, E. Martínez, and D. Vallvé. 1993. Dos nuevas especies de Facelina Alder and Hancock, 1855 (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia) para la Península Ibérica. Publicaciones Especiales. Instituto Español de Oceanografía 11: 123-129.
    Ballesteros, M., E. Madrenas, and M. Pontes. 2016. Actualización del catálogo de los moluscos opistobranquios (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) de las costas catalanas. Spira. 6: 1–28.
    Ballesteros, M., M. Pontes, and E. Madrenas. 2015. Opisthobranch from Medes Islands (Marine Protected Area, Costa Brava, Catalonia, NE Spain): 40 years of study.
    Ballesteros, M., M. Pontes, and E. Madrenas. 2019. Els nudibranquis del mar català. Brau Edicions, Figueres.
    Ballesteros, M., E. Madrenas, and M. Pontes. 2023. OPK - Opistobranquis. (https://opistobranquis.info/).
    Barletta, G., and G. Melone. 1976. Nudibranchi del Promontorio di Portofino (Genova) (Gastropoda Nudibranchia). Natura, Societa Italiana di Scienze Naturali, Milano 67(3-4):203-236.
    Barletta, G., M. Mariani, and C. Perego. 1990. Considerazioni preliminari sugli opistobranchi viventi nella baia di Paraggi (Ge). Lavori della Societa Italiana di Malacologia 23:247-260.
    Barnard, K. H. 1927. South African nudibranch mollusca, with descriptions of new species, and a note on some specimens from Tristan d’Acunha. Annals of the South African Museum 25(1): 171-215, pl. 19-20.
    Bates, C. R., C. G. Moore, T. Malthus, J. M. Mair, and E. Karpouzli. 2004. Broad scale mapping of  habitats in the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary, Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned  Report No. 007 (ROAME No. F01AA401D).
    Beauchamp, P. de. 1914. Les greves de Roscoff, etude sur la repartition des etres dans la zone des marees. 270 pp, 74 pls. Librairie des Sciences Naturelles, Paul Klincksieck, Paris.
    Beaumont, W. I. 1900. Part II.–The benthos (dredging and shore collecting). VII.–Report on the results of dredging and shore- collecting; pp 754-798, In: The fauna and flora of Valencia Harbour on the west coast of Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, series 3, 5(3):667-854.
    Beaumont, W. I. 1900. XII–Report on the opisthobranchiate Mollusca; pp 832-854, In: The fauna and flora of Valencia Harbour on the west coast of Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, series 3, 5(3):667-854.
    Bebbington, A., and T. E. Thompson. 1968. Note sur les opisthobranches du Bassin d’Arcachon. Actes de la Societe Linneenne de Bordeaux, ser. A, 105(5):1-35.
    Bedulli, D., R. Cattaneo-Vietti, R. Chemello, F. Ghisotti, and F. Giovine. 1995. Gastropoda Opisthobranchia, Divasibranchia, Gymnomorpha, Fascicolo 15, pp. 1-23.  In: A. Minelli, A. Ruffo, & S. La Posta (Eds.). Checklist delle specie fauna italiana, Checklist delle specie della Fauna Italiana. Calderini, Bologna.
    Behrentz, A. 1931. Trekk av Lamellidoris muricata’s biologi og av dens generasjonsorganers bygning. Nyt Magazin for Naturvidenskaberne 70:1-26.
    Bergh, L. S. R. 1879. Beitrage zu einer Monographie der Polyceraden, I. Verhandlungen der koniglich-kaiserlich Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien (Abhandlungen) 29:599- 652, pls. 9-14.
    Bergh, L. S. R. 1871. Beitrage zur kenntnis der Mollusken des Sargassomeeres. Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-königlichen Zoologisch-botanisch Gesellschaft in Wien, 21: 1273-1306.
    Bergh, L. S. R. 1883. Beitrage zu einer Monographie der Polyceraden. III. Verhandlungen der koniglich-kaiserlich Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien (Abhandlungen) 33:135- 180, pls. 6-10.
    Bergh, L. S. R. 1880. On the Nudibranchiate Gasteropod Mollusca of the North Pacific Ocean, with special reference to those of Alaska. Second Part. S. Scientific results of the exploration of Alaska by the parties under the charge of W.H. Dall, during the years 1865-1874, Washington, D.C.
    Bergh, L. S. R. 1868. Anatomiske Bidrag til kundskab om aeolidierne. Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Skrifter. Femte Raekke, Naturvidenskabelig og Mathematisk Afdeling Kjobenhavn 7:139-316, pls. I-IX.
    Bergh, L. S. R. 1908. Malacologische Untersuchungen, In: Reisen im Archipel der Philippinen von Dr Carl Gottfried Semper. Zweiter Theil. Wissenschaftliche Resultate. Band 9, Theil 6, Heft 3; pp 119-181, pls. 9-12.
    Bergh, L. S. R. 1878. Malacologische Untersuchungen, In: Reisen im Archipel der Philippinen von Dr Carl Gottfried Semper. Zweiter Theil. Wissenschaftliche Resultate. Band 2, Theil 2, Heft 14; pp 603-645, I-L, pls. 66-68.
    Bergh, R. 1892. System der Nudibranchiaten Gasteropoden. Malacologische Untersuchungen. In: Reisen im Archipel der Philippinen von Dr. Carl Gottfried Semper. Zweiter Theil#Wissenschaftliche Resultate. Band 7, Theil 5. [pp. 1–51, pls 1–4, Mar. 1897; pp. 53–115, pls 5–8, Dec. 1897; pp. 117–158, pls 9–12, Nov. 1898; pp. 159–208, pls 13–16, 27 Mar. 1900; pp. 209–256, pls 17–20, 29 Jan. 1901; pp. 257–312, pls. 21–24, 15 Oct. 1901; pp. 313–382, pls 25–29, 7 Oct. 1902].
    Betti, F., G. Bavestrello, and R. Cattaneo-Vietti. 2021. Preliminary evidence of fluorescence in Mediterranean heterobranchs. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 87: eyaa040.
    Bielecki, S., G. Cavignaux, J. M. Crouzet, and S. Grall. 2011. Des limaces de rêve.
    Birkett, D. A., C. A. Maggs, and M. J. Dring. 1998. Maerl (volume V). An overview of dynamic and  sensitivity characteristics for conservation management of marine SACs. Scottish Association for  Marine Science.

    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:

Pontes, Miquel (2023) "Polycera quadrilineata" in OPK-Opistobranquis. Published: 15/05/2012. Accessed: 22/09/2023. Available at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/?p=420)

To copy this cite click on the right button.