2007/11/01 by Simone Dacosta, Carlo M. Cunha, Luiz Ricardo L. Simone +1 · 3 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Engineering · #Marine Sponges and Natural Products #Marine Biology and Ecology Research #Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/mollus/eym035
openalex publication_date 2007/11/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/23
Obtaining accurate and comprehensive anatomical information from small opisthobranch specimens has been a major problem. Computer-based 3-dimensional reconstruction from serial histological slides applying AMIRA (TGS Graphics) software is shown to be an efficient and fully reproducible way to analyse tiny and complex organ systems in their true relative positions and proportions; this method is herein applied to nudibranchs for the first time. We used Flabellina engeli lucianae n. subsp., a small aeolid (up to 8 mm body preserved length) from subtropical southern Brazil, to illustrate all major organ systems including nervous systems, and discuss them comparatively. Flabellina engeli lucianae differs externally from congeners by having a translucent body with opaque white and iridescent blue spots, orange ceratal bands, and by the special branching of cerata forming distinct groups on common peduncles. External and internal differences from the apparently geographically and hydrographically separated Caribbean specimens of F. engeli engeliMarcus & Marcus, 1968 are discussed in detail.