Melanochlamys
Encyclopedia
Melanochlamys is a genus of headshield slugs in the family Aglajidae
. Despite the appearance of its species, this genus must not be confused with nudibranch
s.
This genus was first described by Cheeseman in 1881 but later malacologists considered it a junior synonym of Aglaja
Renier, 1807, until the genus was reinstated by Rudman in 1972
It differs from the other genera in Aglajidae by its external cylindrical body form with small parapodia
, the shape of its small, curved and strongly calcified shell, its alimentary canal with a rigid, non-eversible buccal bulb , and the reproductive system with a short duct to the exogenous ( = originating from the outside) sperm sac and a characteristic penis
.
(WoRMS), this genus contains the following accepted names :
Species brought into synonymy :
The Seaslug Forum also adds the following names :
Aglajidae
Aglajidae is a family of often colorful, medium-sized, sea slugs, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks. These are not nudibranchs; instead they are headshield slugs, in the clade Cephalaspidea.-Genera:...
. Despite the appearance of its species, this genus must not be confused with 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.
This genus was first described by Cheeseman in 1881 but later malacologists considered it a junior synonym of Aglaja
Aglaja
Aglaja is a dance theater from Bruges, Belgium.Founded in the late 1960s by the visionary choreographer and teacher Jan Dewulf, it is still one of Bruges most important cultural ambassadors...
Renier, 1807, until the genus was reinstated by Rudman in 1972
It differs from the other genera in Aglajidae by its external cylindrical body form with small parapodia
Parapodium
Parapodia , singular parapodium, are paired, un-jointed lateral outgrowths from the bodies of two different invertebrate groups, which are primarily marine in habitat...
, the shape of its small, curved and strongly calcified shell, its alimentary canal with a rigid, non-eversible buccal bulb , and the reproductive system with a short duct to the exogenous ( = originating from the outside) sperm sac and a characteristic penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
.
Species
According to the World Register of Marine SpeciesWorld Register of Marine Species
The World Register of Marine Species is a database that hopes to provide an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms. The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scientific specialists on each group of organism. These taxonomists control the quality of the...
(WoRMS), this genus contains the following accepted names :
- Melanochlamys algirae (Adams A. in Sowerby G.B. II, 1850)
- Melanochlamys handrecki Burn, 2010
- Melanochlamys maderensis (Watson, 1897)
- Melanochlamys papillata Gosliner, 1990
- Melanochlamys queritor (Burn, 1957)
- Melanochlamys wildpretii Ortea, Bacallado & Moro, 2003
Species brought into synonymy :
- Melanochlamys depicta (Renier, 1807) : synonym of Philinopsis depicta (Renier, 1807)
- Melanochlamys seurati (Vayssière, 1926) : synonym of Melanochlamys algirae (Adams A. in Sowerby G.B. II, 1850)
The Seaslug Forum also adds the following names :
- Melanochlamys cylindrica Cheeseman, 1881
- Melanochlamys diomedea (Bergh, 1894)
- Melanochlamys ezoensis : considered a synonym of Melanochlamys diomedea
- Melanochlamys lorrainae (Rudman, 1968)