Murphydoris
Encyclopedia
Murphydoris is a monotypic genus
of sea slug
s, specifically dorid
nudibranch
s, marine
gastropod molluscs in the family
Goniodorididae
.
of the genus Murphydoris. The generic name Murphydoris was created to honor the zoologist and ecologist D. H. Murphy, who is on the staff at the National University of Singapore
.
The characteristics of the genus Murphydoris is, that it lacks peri-anal ctenidia (comb-like respiratory gills); its rhinophore
s are non-lamellate and its radula
formula is n x 1.1.0.1.1. The lateral teeth are unicuspid (= with a single tapering point) with 12 denticles and the marginal teeth are bicuspid.
s between Kranji
and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
in Singapore
.
This is a small nudibranch with a body length of 5 mm and a body width of 2 mm. It was found along the coast of Singapore, between colonies of the bryozoan Sundanella sibogae (order Ctenostomata
).
In this animal, the mantle
is colorless and translucent, showing the colors of the internal organs. The surface of the mantle shows irregular dark reddish-brown blotches. Behind the rhinophore
s there is a large horse shoe shaped spot. There are no mantle papillae in front of the non-lamellate, non-retractile rhinophores. The mantle ridge is situated at either side of the anus and is reduced to three pairs of bifid tentacle
s. Its penis is armed with many spines. It lays its spawn in loose white coils.
When these nudibranchs respond to a threat, they adopt a defensive posture: they flatten their body allowing numerous spicule
s to penetrate through the body wall, so that the nudibranch assumes the aspect of a hedgehog
, covered in spines. The numerous glands on the body wall also probably contribute to the effectiveness of this defensive posture.
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 dorid
Doridacea
Doridacea is a taxonomic grouping of dorid nudibranchs, shell-less marine gastropod mollusks. included in the clade Euctenidiacea of the clade Nudibranchia.- Taxonomy :*Superfamily Doridoidea**Family Dorididae**Family Actinocyclidae...
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, marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod molluscs in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Goniodorididae
Goniodorididae
Goniodorididae are a taxonomic family of sea slugs, specifically dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod molluscs in the order Opisthobranchia.-Genera:Genera in the family Goniodorididae include:* Ancula Lovén, 1846* Goniodoris Forbes & Goodsir, 1939...
.
Genus description
Murphydoris singaporensis Sigurdsson, 1991 is the type speciesType species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of the genus Murphydoris. The generic name Murphydoris was created to honor the zoologist and ecologist D. H. Murphy, who is on the staff at the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
.
The characteristics of the genus Murphydoris is, that it lacks peri-anal ctenidia (comb-like respiratory gills); its 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...
s are non-lamellate and its radula
Radula
The radula is an anatomical structure that is used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared rather inaccurately to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food enters the esophagus...
formula is n x 1.1.0.1.1. The lateral teeth are unicuspid (= with a single tapering point) with 12 denticles and the marginal teeth are bicuspid.
Distribution
The type locality for Murphydoris singaporensis is mangroveMangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s between Kranji
Kranji
Kranji is a suburb in northwestern Singapore, located about from the city centre.-Etymology:Kranji is named after a local tree, the kranji or keranji . Its abundance has rapidly dwindled since the first half of the nineteenth century.-History:The first Singapore-Kranji railway from Tank Road to...
and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a nature reserve located in the Northwest area of Singapore. It is the first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in Singapore in the year 2002, and its global importance as a stop-over point for migratory birds was also recognised by the Wetlands International's...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Species description
Murphydoris singaporensis was firstly collected by Jon B. Sigurdsson, and was described as a new species in 1991.This is a small nudibranch with a body length of 5 mm and a body width of 2 mm. It was found along the coast of Singapore, between colonies of the bryozoan Sundanella sibogae (order Ctenostomata
Ctenostomata
The Ctenostomata are an order of bryozoans in the class Gymnolaemata. The great majority of ctenostome species are marine, although Paludicella inhabits freshwater....
).
In this animal, the mantle
Mantle (mollusc)
The mantle is a significant part of the anatomy of molluscs: it is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass and usually protrudes in the form of flaps well beyond the visceral mass itself.In many, but by no means all, species of molluscs, the epidermis of the mantle secretes...
is colorless and translucent, showing the colors of the internal organs. The surface of the mantle shows irregular dark reddish-brown blotches. Behind 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...
s there is a large horse shoe shaped spot. There are no mantle papillae in front of the non-lamellate, non-retractile rhinophores. The mantle ridge is situated at either side of the anus and is reduced to three pairs of bifid 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...
s. Its penis is armed with many spines. It lays its spawn in loose white coils.
When these nudibranchs respond to a threat, they adopt a defensive posture: they flatten their body allowing numerous spicule
Spicule
Spicules are tiny spike-like structures of diverse origin and function found in many organisms, such as the copulatory spicules of certain nematodes or the grains on the skin of some frogs.In sponges, spicules perform a structural function....
s to penetrate through the body wall, so that the nudibranch assumes the aspect of a hedgehog
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
, covered in spines. The numerous glands on the body wall also probably contribute to the effectiveness of this defensive posture.
Species
Besides Murphydoris singaporensis Sigurdsson, 1991, other species have been tentatively placed in Murphydoris, but have not yet been named and are undescribed species:- Murphydoris sp. 1 Marshall & Willan, 1999 - this is a small species (about 0.5 cm long) living amongst algaeAlgaeAlgae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
along the coast of New South Wales, Australia. Its color is yellow-white with black spots and orange ridges. The rhinophores and gills have the same color but have white tips. - Murphydoris sp. “GBR Murphydoris” Coleman, 2001
- Murphydoris sp. 1 Cobb & Willan, 2006
- Murphydoris sp. “Black’s Murphydoris” Coleman, 2008
- Murphydoris sp. 1 Debelius & Kuiter, 2007