Berthella ocellata (delle Chiaje, 1830)
- Pleurobranchus monterosati Vayssière, 1880
- Pleurobranchus ocellatus Delle Chiaje, 1830 (original)
Description
This notaspidean can reach more than 50 mm in length. The main features of this species are the domed mantle, its dark brown color and the lightly colored ocelli fringed with white, which are characteristic and refered in the specific name. The head veil is quite wide and pigmented of a slightly lighter brown than the body. The rhinophores are auriculate, light brown colored and arranged in divergent orientation, towards both sides. The mantle has numerous, different sized, round bumps that match the ocelli. These bumps are fringed with white circles that can connect with those of adjacent ocelli. The gill, located in the right side of the body, between the mantle and the foot, is bipinnate, yellowish and may have up to 25 lamellae on either side of the spine, which can be dotted in light brown. The foot is wide and can emit defensive acid secretions.
Biology
This species is usually collected under rocks at shallow depth. Very little is known about feeding, breeding and other details of its biology.
Etymology
- Berthella. Probably dedicated to Sabin Berthelot (1794-1880), a French naturalyst who enrolled the Navy and participated in the Napoleonic wars. He lived part of his life at the Canary islands, in his post as French consul in Tenerife. The abbreviation “Berth” is used to indicate Sabin Berthelot as an authority in the scientific botanical description and classification. He wrote the “Historia Natural de Canarias” and directed the Botanical Garden of Puerto de la Cruz.
- Ocellata. From Latin “ocellatus”, with small eyes, or eye shaped colour stains.
Distribution
So far this species has been collected only in the Mediterranean Sea. In the Catalan coast it is found sporadically, but there are cites in Es Caials (Cadaqués), Illa Mateua (L’Escala) or Palamos, among others.
| 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: | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
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Bibliography
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Further reading
Cite this article as:
Ballesteros, M., Madrenas, E. & Pontes, M. (2023) "Berthella ocellata" in OPK-Opistobranquis. Published: 15/05/2012. Accessed: 01/06/2023. Available at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/B5y6i)
