Runcina adriatica (Thompson, 1980)
WoRMS Taxonomic Information
Current classification
| Superdomain | Biota |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Mollusca |
| Class | Gastropoda |
| Subclass | Heterobranchia |
| Infraclass | Euthyneura |
| Subterclass | Tectipleura |
| Order | Runcinida |
| Superfamily | Runcinoidea |
| Family | Runcinidae |
| Genus | Runcina |
| Species | Runcina adriatica T. E. Thompson, 1980 |
These animals use to be between 1.5 and 2.5 mm in length. The body is dark brown and it is almost entirely covered by black spots on the dorsum and on the foot. There are also numerous whitish or cream colored dots which can concentrate to form spots or bands, among which stands out a transverse band, sometimes incomplete, on the first third of the body and a more diffuse longitudinal line extending from the head to the posterior area of the notum, where it connects with a thicker white band located at the border of the notum. The cephalic region lateral zones are colored with light tones are also whitish dotted. The eyes are visible in these clear cephalic areas. In some specimens the black spots on the back concentrate forming other black bands right behind the white transversal anterior band and ahead of the rear area of the back. In the foot there are also black spots forming a central dark band that can be seen in the tail. The notum is raised in the back forming a paleal ridge, where there are two small semitransparent gills.
Biology
In the Mediterranean it seems to be a very common species living among Posidonia oceanica rhizomes, something confirmed in recent studies. It is a herbivorous species that due to its small size and crypsis on the Posidonia rhizomes, it is very difficult to observe in nature.
Etymology
- Runcina. From Latin “runcina”, carpenter’s plane, a tool used to smooth the wood’s surface.
- Adriatica. Of or pertaining to the Adriatic Sea. From Latin “Adriaticus”, from “Adria”, an Etruscan settlement at the northern shore of the Adriatic Sea.
Distribution
Runcina adriatica was described in 1980 by Thompson, based on specimens collected off the coast of today’s Croatia. It was later collected again in waters of Croatia, in the Canaries island and the Azores. In the Iberian Peninsula is only known in several localities of the Costa Brava like Tossa de Mar.
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Abundance
| Western Mediterranean: | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Eastern Mediterranean: | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Atlantic Ocean: | ★☆☆☆☆ |
This chart displays the monthly observation probability for Runcina adriatica based on our own records.
More pictures
Bibliography
Further reading
Cite this article as:
Ballesteros, M., Madrenas, E. & Pontes, M. (2025) "Runcina adriatica" in OPK-Opistobranquis. Published: 14/05/2012. Accessed: 07/09/2026. Available at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/?p=251)
