Aeolidia helicochorda, a new aeolid nudibranch (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) from New Zealand

Abstract

Aeolidia helicochorda n. sp. is described and illustrated. The new species is compared with just two other members of the same aeolid family, the Aeolidiidae, which are by far the closest in having a long, narrow body. It is distinguished from these two species by lacking opaque white spots of surface pigment, having lamellate rhinophores, cerata in horseshoe-shaped clusters, narrow, loosely coiled and terminally reflected ceratal (digestive) diverticula, rounded anterior foot comers, reproductive apertures immediately below the tip of the rear limb of the first right ceratal cluster, very wide and low radular teeth with evensized and set denticles, and jaws with a denticulate masticatory process.

Keywords:

• Gastropoda
• Opisthobranchia
• Nudibranchia
• Aeolidiidae
• Aeolidia helicochorda
• systematics