Bornella irvingi Edmunds and Preece, 1996

Pola, Marta, Rudman, William B. & Gosliner, Terrence M., 2009, Systematics and preliminary phylogeny of Bornellidae (Mollusca: Nudibranchia: Dendronotina) based on morphological characters with description of four new species, Zootaxa 1975, pp. 1-57 : 29-30

Bornella irvingi Edmunds and Preece, 1996

( Fig.1 G)

Bornella n. sp. Preece, 1995: 358.

Bornella irvingi Edmunds and Preece, 1996: 417 –419, figs. 5–6.

Material Examined: Only two specimens are known. Both specimens are housed in the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge ( UMZC I 22000a (Holotype) and UMZC I 22000b (paratype )), but we were unable to examine the reproductive system of these specimens due to museum loan policy.

Geographic Distribution: Currently known only from the Pitcairn Islands ( Preece 1995; Edmunds & Preece 1996).

Remarks: Bornella irvingi is known from two specimens, 16 and 11 mm long preserved, from the Pitcairn Islands. In the original description the external morphology of both specimens, and the radula and jaw of the smaller animal, were described. Since we were refused permission to borrow the specimens in order to examine the reproductive system, we can only paraphrase here the original description: Bornella irvingi has a white body, a black head, and the edge of the foot is bordered with an outer orange band, and an inner black band. The dorsal papillae and gills are white. The oral papillae and the papillae on the rhinophore sheaths are orange ( Fig. 1 G). The dorsolateral processes usually found in the genus are replaced by four lanceolate papillae which are arranged in two pairs, placed approximately in the middle third of the body. Each papilla has two gills at its base, on the outer side. The rhinophores in the smaller specimen each have about 10 lamellae. Each rhinophore sheath has three anterior and anterolateral papillae on the upper edge, and a longer posterior papilla. The papillae are all unbranched. There are 13 oral papillae on each side of the mouth. The radula formula is 46 x 7.1.7. The median tooth is broad and pointed with six or seven denticles on each side. The six or seven lateral teeth each have a lanceolate, pointed cusp arising from a rectangular plate.

B. irvingi clearly differs from the other species of Bornella in its coloration and in the shape and smaller number of dorsolateral processes.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Living animals. A – B, Bornella stellifer (Adams and Reeve in Adams, 1848); A, Malaysia, Malay Peninsula, South China Sea, Photo: T. M. Gosliner. B, Papua New Guinea, north coast, Madang, Photo: R. C. Willan. C – D, Bornella calcarata Mörch, 1863; C, Brazil, Photo: C. M. Cunha. D, Guarapi, Espiritu Santo, Brazil, Photo: J. P. Cauduro Filho. E, Bornella sarape Bertsch, 1980, Pacific coast of Mexico, Photo: A. Hermosillo. F, Bornella anguilla Johnson, 1984, Japan, Ryukyu Island, Okinawa, Photo: R. F. Bolland. G, Bornella irvingi Edmunds and Preece, 1996, Pitcairn Islands, Photo: J. Jamieson. H, Bornella dotoides sp. nov. Papua New Guinea, north Madang, “ The Quarry ”, Photo: T. M. Gosliner.