Tritoniopsis elegans Audouin, 1826

Tibiriçá, Yara, Pola, Marta & Cervera, Juan Lucas, 2017, Astonishing diversity revealed: an annotated and illustrated inventory of Nudipleura (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from Mozambique, Zootaxa 4359 (1), pp. 1-133 : 94

Tritoniopsis elegans Audouin, 1826

( Figure 29 I –J )

Material examined. Seven specimens. MB28-004506, ZRP, 21 Feb. 2012, 2m, 27mm; MB28-00 4677, ZRP, 25 May 2013, 0.5m, 44mm; MB28-004691, ZRP, 12 Jul. 2013, 0.5m, 45mm; MHN-YT904, ZRP, 0 8 Sep. 2013, 0.5m, 45mm; MB28-004965, ZRP, 0 6 Feb. 2015, 0.5m, 50mm; MB28-005017, ZRP, 0 4 Aug. 2015, 1m, 42mm; MB28- 0 0 4510, ZRP, 21 Feb. 2012, 1m, 33mm.

Habitats. Subtropical tidal reef.

Occurrencces. Zavora.

Geographic distribution. Indo-west Pacific. Japan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines (Gosliner et al. 2008), Indonesia ( Yonow 2011), Thailand (Gosliner et al. 2008), Australia, Red Sea ( Audouin 1826), Kenya, South Africa (Gosliner et al. 2008) and Mozambique.

Remarks. This species appears to be variable in colour (29 I –J). Two morphotypes were found: morphotype 1 which is completely white with longitudinal opaque white lines ( Fig. 29 I ) and morphotype 2 which has a reticulate pattern of white and orange on the dorsum ( Fig. 29 J ). Additional studies are needed to verify if they are the same species.

Figures

FIGURE 29. A, Dermatobranchus sp. 3 (MB28-004590). B, Dermatobranchus sp. 4 (MB28-004604). C, Dermatobranchus sp. 5 (MB28-004409). D, Marionia arborescens (MB28-004514). E, Marionia elongoreticulata (MB28-005026). F, Marionia levis (MB28-004895).G, Marionia rubra(ZMBN105607). H, Marioniasp. (MB28-004784).I–J, Tritoniopsis elegans (MB28- 004510 and MB28-004691, respectively).K, Bornella anguilla(MB28-004426).L, Bornella stellifera (MB28-004958).