Aeolid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) of the family Aeolidiidae from New Zealand waters

Abstract

The five species of the nudibranch family Aeolidiidae known to occur in New Zealand waters are reviewed. Detailed descriptions are provided for four of the species, Anteaeolidiella indica (Bergh, 1888) originally Aeolidiella indica; Spurilla faustina (Bergh, 1900) originally Aeolidiella faustina; Aeolidiella drusilla Bergh, 1900 and Baeolidia australis (Rudman, 1982) originally Spurilla australis. These are appraised in respect of what was known previously. Nothing can be added to the description of the fifth species, Burnaia helicochorda (Miller, 1987) originally Aeolidia helicochorda, as no more specimens have been found. A revision of all of the genera is attempted. As a consequence nine genera are maintained and two new ones created. Anteaeolidiella gen. nov. is created to accommodate Aeolidiella indica which does not sit comfortably in Aeolidiella or any of the other aeolidiid genera because of the arrangement of the cerata (multi-rowed clusters) and shape of the oral glands (spindle-shaped reservoir and giant gland cells). Burnaia gen. nov. is created to accommodate Aeolidia helicochorda which stands apart in possessing horseshoe-shaped ceratal rows (each forming a distinct cluster), finely lamellated rhinophores and prominent structured jaw denticles. Several of the known species including some still unnamed need to be described fully before the validity of the genera can be assessed properly on the characters used so far.