Kathleen Boyd
Info
Bulbaeolidia oasis Caballer & Ortea, 2015
The type locality for the description of Bulbaeolidia oasis is the dock of the Oasis Hotel, Varadero, Cuba. Etymology: "oasis", named after the Caribbean locality where this species was first found, the Hotel Oasis in Varadero, Cuba.
Description: Body distinctly flattened and creamy white. Oral tentacles opaque white, short, constricted in the middle. No red, square band around the base of the rhinophores. Cerata creamy white with a reddish spot at the tip, densely arranged on the dorsum.
Rhinophores with two swellings, white, with reddish transverse banding that gives the false impression of rhinophoral sheaths or folds (in the Cuban animal); this feature is absent in the specimen from Guadeloupe, which was white. The lower swelling is thicker and variable in shape, sometimes disc-like. Tip of the rhinophores thick and white. The red, square band around the base of the rhinophores is absent.
Eyes visible laterally at the base of the rhinophores, within a cream-coloured area bordered by a reddish-brown line. Foot translucent, with rounded foot corners. Oral tentacles opaque white, short, constricted in the middle. Cerata creamy white with a reddish spot at the tip, short, curved inwards, densely arranged on the dorsum; no shaking or stretching movements.
Feeds mainly on sea anemones, but has also been observed feeding on the spawn of Elysia sea slugs.
When crawling, the rhinophores are moved rhythmically back and forth (in a jerky manner), whereas the rest of the body and the cerata are not.
The egg mass forms a transparent, undulating, open ribbon containing opaque white eggs arranged in two rows (in dorsal view). The ribbon is 1 mm high, with 8 eggs in each of the two rows.
Similar species: Bulbaeolidia alba differs from Bulbaeolidia oasis in its thicker oral tentacles; its rhinophores, which lack the pattern of reddish transverse bands present in the holotype of Bulbaeolidia oasis; the red, square band around the base of the rhinophores; cerata lacking a reddish spot at the tip; and its shorter tail.
Unlike Bulbaeolidia oasis, Bulbaeolidia japonica has a slender, brownish-white body up to 50 mm long, covered with numerous white to yellowish-white spots, and a brown head; numerous dark brown, slender, thin cerata; and rhinophores with 3–4 rings.
Bulbaeolidia sulphurea has a pinkish-white body, sulphur-yellow rhinophores, a red, square band around the base of the rhinophores, thick, cylindrical, sulphur-yellow oral tentacles, pink cerata with sulphur-yellow tips and a very short tail, which distinguishes it from Bulbaeolidia oasis.
Bulbaeolidia oasis is a rare species.
The type locality for the description of Bulbaeolidia oasis is the dock of the Oasis Hotel, Varadero, Cuba. Etymology: "oasis", named after the Caribbean locality where this species was first found, the Hotel Oasis in Varadero, Cuba.
Description: Body distinctly flattened and creamy white. Oral tentacles opaque white, short, constricted in the middle. No red, square band around the base of the rhinophores. Cerata creamy white with a reddish spot at the tip, densely arranged on the dorsum.
Rhinophores with two swellings, white, with reddish transverse banding that gives the false impression of rhinophoral sheaths or folds (in the Cuban animal); this feature is absent in the specimen from Guadeloupe, which was white. The lower swelling is thicker and variable in shape, sometimes disc-like. Tip of the rhinophores thick and white. The red, square band around the base of the rhinophores is absent.
Eyes visible laterally at the base of the rhinophores, within a cream-coloured area bordered by a reddish-brown line. Foot translucent, with rounded foot corners. Oral tentacles opaque white, short, constricted in the middle. Cerata creamy white with a reddish spot at the tip, short, curved inwards, densely arranged on the dorsum; no shaking or stretching movements.
Feeds mainly on sea anemones, but has also been observed feeding on the spawn of Elysia sea slugs.
When crawling, the rhinophores are moved rhythmically back and forth (in a jerky manner), whereas the rest of the body and the cerata are not.
The egg mass forms a transparent, undulating, open ribbon containing opaque white eggs arranged in two rows (in dorsal view). The ribbon is 1 mm high, with 8 eggs in each of the two rows.
Similar species: Bulbaeolidia alba differs from Bulbaeolidia oasis in its thicker oral tentacles; its rhinophores, which lack the pattern of reddish transverse bands present in the holotype of Bulbaeolidia oasis; the red, square band around the base of the rhinophores; cerata lacking a reddish spot at the tip; and its shorter tail.
Unlike Bulbaeolidia oasis, Bulbaeolidia japonica has a slender, brownish-white body up to 50 mm long, covered with numerous white to yellowish-white spots, and a brown head; numerous dark brown, slender, thin cerata; and rhinophores with 3–4 rings.
Bulbaeolidia sulphurea has a pinkish-white body, sulphur-yellow rhinophores, a red, square band around the base of the rhinophores, thick, cylindrical, sulphur-yellow oral tentacles, pink cerata with sulphur-yellow tips and a very short tail, which distinguishes it from Bulbaeolidia oasis.
Bulbaeolidia oasis is a rare species.
