Bornella
Encyclopedia
Bornella is a genus
of sea slug
s, specifically aeolidiform
nudibranch
s in the family Bornellidae
. This is a monophyletic genus
.
There has not been much research on this genus. Their biology is mostly unknown, except that they seem to feed exclusively on hydroid
s.
s. Their rounded head shows on each side of the mouth a tentacle
, with tiny finger-like papillae. The sheath of the rhinophore
stands high and resembles the dorsal processes.
The various species differ in their color pattern and their number of dorsal and lateral outgrowths and the number of branches on their rhinophore sheath.
.
In their genital system, the male duct is separate from the female duct.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of sea slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
s, specifically aeolidiform
Aeolidiidae
Aeolidiidae, the aeolid nudibranchs, are a family of Nudibranchs. Many feed on hydroids and thus have highly serrated radular teeth.- Genera :Genera and species within the Aeolidiidae include:* Aeolidia Cuvier, 1797 - type genus...
nudibranch
Nudibranch
A nudibranch is a member of what is now a taxonomic clade, and what was previously a suborder, of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms...
s in the family Bornellidae
Bornellidae
Bornellidae is a family of sea snails or sea slugs, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Tritonioidea.This family is within the clade Cladobranchia .- Taxonomy :...
. This is a monophyletic genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
.
There has not been much research on this genus. Their biology is mostly unknown, except that they seem to feed exclusively on hydroid
Hydroid
-Marine biology:Hydroids are a life stage for most animals of class Hydrozoa, small predators related to jellyfish.-Botany:In mosses, hydroids form the innermost layer of the stem of long, colourless, thin walled cells of small diameter.The cells are dead and lack protoplasm.They function as water...
s.
Distribution
These nudibranchs occur in the Indo-West Pacific. In addition there is one species in the tropical eastern Pacific, and one species in the western Atlantic.Description
Their body is covered with cerata-like dorsal and lateral outgrowths, with finger-like branches. They have an attached cluster of gillGill
A gill is a respiratory organ found in many aquatic organisms that extracts dissolved oxygen from water, afterward excreting carbon dioxide. The gills of some species such as hermit crabs have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are kept moist...
s. Their rounded head shows on each side of the mouth a tentacle
Tentacle
A tentacle or bothrium is one of usually two or more elongated flexible organs present in animals, especially invertebrates. The term may also refer to the hairs of the leaves of some insectivorous plants. Usually, tentacles are used for feeding, feeling and grasping. Anatomically, they work like...
, with tiny finger-like papillae. The sheath of the rhinophore
Rhinophore
A rhinophore is one of a pair of club-shaped structures which are the most prominent part of the external head anatomy of a group of sea slugs, marine gastropod opisthobranch mollusks in the order Nudibranchia, the nudibranchs, specifically the dorid nudibranchs.- Etymology :The name relates to the...
stands high and resembles the dorsal processes.
The various species differ in their color pattern and their number of dorsal and lateral outgrowths and the number of branches on their rhinophore sheath.
Anatomy
These nudibranchs are characterized by an unpaired oral glandGland
A gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release of substances such as hormones or breast milk, often into the bloodstream or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface .- Types :...
.
In their genital system, the male duct is separate from the female duct.
Species
Species within this genus include:- Bornella stelliferBornella stelliferBornella stellifer is a species of colorful sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Bornellidae.-References:*Pola, M., Rudman, W. B. & Gosliner, T. M. . "Systematics and preliminary phylogeny of Bornellidae based on morphological characters with description of four new...
(Adams and Reeve in Adams, 1848) (synonyms : Bornella hancockana Kelaart, 1859 , Bornella arborescens Pease, 1871 , Bornella caledonica Crosse, 1875 , Bornella marmorata Collingwood, 1881 ) - Bornella calcarata MörchOtto Andreas Lowson MörchOtto Andreas Lowson Mörch was a biologist, specifically a malacologist. He lived in Sweden, in Denmark, and in France.- Taxa described :Bibliography and taxa described by Otto Andreas Lowson Mörch include:...
, 1863 - Bornella excepta Bergh, 1884
- Bornella simplex Eliot, 1904
- Bornella hermanni Angas, 1864 (synonym : Bornella. japonica Baba, 1949 )
- Bornella sarape Bertsch, 1980.
- Bornella anguilla Johnson, 1984
- Bornella irvingi Edmunds and Preece, 1996
- Bornella dotoides sp. nov.
- Bornella pele sp. nov.
- Bornella valdae sp. nov.
- Bornella johnsonorum sp. nov.
- B. semperi Crosse 1875 (nomen nudum)