''Tritonicula bayeri'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of dendronotid

nudibranch Nudibranchs () are a group of soft-bodied marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms, and they have been given colourful nicknames to matc ...

. It is a

marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

mollusc Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is esti ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Tritoniidae Tritoniidae is a taxonomic family of nudibranchs in the suborder Cladobranchia, shell-less marine gastropod molluscs.MolluscaBase (2018)Tritoniidae Lamarck, 1809.Accessed on 2021-01-01 This family includes some of the largest known nudibranchs, ...

. A number of Caribbean and western Pacific species of ''Tritonia'' were moved to a new genus ''Tritonicula'' in 2020 as a result of an integrative taxonomic study of the family Tritoniidae.Korshunova, T.; Martynov, A. (2020)
Consolidated data on the phylogeny and evolution of the family Tritoniidae (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) contribute to genera reassessment and clarify the taxonomic status of the neuroscience models ''Tritonia'' and ''Tochuina''.
PLOS ONE. 15(11): e0242103.

Distribution

The distribution of ''Tritonicula bayeri'' includes Georgia, Florida, Belize, Honduras, Cayman Islands, Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Barbados and Panama.

Description

The shape of the body is elongate and narrow. Rhinophoral sheaths are elevated with an irregular edge.

Cerata :''The tortrix moth genus ''Cerata'' is considered a junior synonym of ''Cydia. Cerata, singular ceras, are anatomical structures found externally in nudibranch sea slugs, especially in aeolid nudibranchs, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks ...

are relatively short and branched. Edge of the oral veil is with relatively long appendages.

Rhinophores A rhinophore is one of a pair of chemosensory club-shaped, rod-shaped or ear-like structures which are the most prominent part of the external head anatomy in sea slugs, marine gastropod opisthobranch mollusks such as the nudibranchs, sea hares ...

are long and branched. Background color is translucent gray with a distinctive reticulate network of opaque white across the dorsum. It is up to 11 mm long.Welch J. J. (2010). "The “Island Rule” and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". '' PLoS ONE'' 5(1): e8776. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.

Ecology

''Tritonicula bayeri'' was found on gorgonians and coral rubble in Panama. It inhabits reefs from 11 m down to 77 m depth. ''Tritonicula bayeri'' feeds on the octocorals ''

Briareum asbestinum ''Briareum'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Briareidae. The coral is cultivated by aquarium owners for its fluorescing polyps, which reveal themselves under actinic light. The genus is in need of extensive examination, as many specimens ...

'', ''

Leptogorgia virgulata ''Leptogorgia virgulata'', commonly known as the sea whip or colorful sea whip, is a species of Alcyonacea, soft coral in the Family (biology), family Gorgoniidae.

'' and ''

Pseudopterogorgia ''Pseudopterogorgia'' is a genus of soft coral sea fans in the family Gorgoniidae Gorgoniidae is a family of soft corals, a member of the subclass Octocorallia in the phylum Cnidaria. Nearly all the genera and species are native to the eas ...

'' sp.

References

This article incorporates Creative Commons (CC-BY-4.0) text from the referenceGoodheart J. A., Ellingson R. A., Vital X. G., Galvão Filho H. C., McCarthy J. B., Medrano S. M., Bhave V. J., García-Méndez K., Jiménez L. M., López G. & Hoover C. A. (2016). "Identification guide to the heterobranch sea slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Bocas del Toro, Panama". ''Marine Biodiversity Records'' 9(1): 56.

External links

* http://www.seaslugforum.net/tritbaye.htm {{Taxonbar, from=Q3200423 Tritoniidae Gastropods described in 1967 Taxa named by Eveline Du Bois-Reymond Marcus Taxa named by Ernst Marcus (zoologist)