1981/07/01 by W. B. RUDMAN · 8 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Marine Biology and Ecology Research #Marine and fisheries research #Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1981.tb01571.x
openalex publication_date 1981/07/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
The anatomy of seven species of aeolid opisthobranch molluscs is described. They are all considered to be specialized feeders on alcyonarian coelenterates and to belong to one genus Phyllodesmium (Glaucidae; Favorininae). Two species are considered to be new. Favorinus horridus Macnae, Aeolidia poindimiei Risbec, Cratena macphersonae Burn and another species not studied in this paper, Hervia serrata Baba, are transferred to Phyllodesmium from the genera in which they are currently placed. Myrrhine Bergh, Babaiella Risso-Dominguez and Phyllodesmiopsis Risso-Dominguez are considered synonyms of Phyllodesmium. The two new species feed on Xenia and P. poindimiei feeds on Telesto. It is shown that the species of Phyllodesmium exhibit an evolutionary series in the development of symbiosis with zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae are obtained from the alcyonarians upon which the aeolids feed. Morphological peculiarities present in some members of the genus are considered to be associated with the symbiosis.