LESSEPSIAN OPISTHOBRANCHS FROM SOUTHWESTERN COAST OF TURKEY;
FIVE NEW RECORDS FOR MEDITERRANEAN
B. Yokes
1 *
and W. B. Rudman
2
1
Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey - * bakiyokes@turk.net
2
Malacology Section, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia - billr@austmus.gov.au
Abstract
The opisthobranchs from the southwestern coast of Turkey were studied by diving. The species are either collected or photographed. Ten
lessepsian species have been identified, with five new records for the Mediterranean, and four new records for Turkey. The observation of
Hypselodoris infucatain Fethiye extends its distribution range westward on the Turkish coast.
Key words: Lessepsian, Opisthobranch, Turkey
Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit., 37,2004
557
The Indo-West Pacific (IWP) originated gastropods from Turkey are
well studied and some lessepsian opisthobranchs have already been
reported (1). The lack of shell makes it difficult to trace the presence of
opisthobranchs, unless specimens are observed or collected alive in their
habitat. Exotic opisthobranch species from the southwestern coast of
Turkey, between Bodrum and Tekirova, were identifed from living speci-
mens or from photographs. Of the tenlessepsians identified, Haminoea
cyanomarginata,Oxynoe viridis,Elysia grandifolia, Elysia tomentosa,
Syphonota geographicaare new records for the Mediterranean. Bulla
ampulla, Plocamopherus ocellatus, Melibe viridisand Flabellinarubro-
lineataare new records for Turkey. The observation of Hypselodoris infu-
catain Fethiye extends its westernmost limit on the Turkish coast.
Photographs and identifications have been verified on the Sea Slug Forum
(http://www.seaslugforum.net).
Haminoea cyanomarginataHeller & Thompson, 1983
Material photographed: Uc Adalar: 15m, July 2002; 24m, September
2003; Cesme: 15m, September 2002; all on rocky habitat.
Remarks. Haminoea cyanomarginatawas described from the Sudanese
Red Sea, the only known record for IWP (2). Another record from Greece
is in press (3). Its abundance suggests that it has a wide distribution on the
southwestern coast of Turkey (4).
Bulla ampullaLinnaeus, 1758
Material collected: Uc Adalar: 18m, sediment from Cymodocea nodosa
field, May 2001; 22m, sediment from Halophila stipulaceafield,
September 2003.
Remarks. Living animals have not been observed, but three shells were
collected, which are new records for Turkey.
Oxynoe viridis(Pease, 1861)
Material photographed: Uc Adalar, 6m, April 2002; Tekirova, 8m,
September 2002.
Remarks. Oxynoe viridisis variable in colour in IWP, but all Turkish
specimens had a yellowish body covered with blue spots. It is rarely, but
always observed on Caulerpaspecies (5).
Elysia grandifoliaKelaart, 1858
Material photographed:Uc Adalar: 5m, September 2001; 7m, August
2003.
Remarks. Both Elysia ornata (Swainson, 1840)and E. grandifoliahave
almost identical colouration, but Elysia grandifoliais larger, 10 cm or
more, its parapodia are large and thin, the black and orange bands at the
edge of the parapodia are not separated by white. Some authors consider
them as conspecific, but more anatomical study is needed to clarify the
relation. Due to body size and parapodial structure, the Turkish individu-
als are classified as Elysia grandifolia (6). Rare, always on rocky habitat,
more common in Lebanon (Jose Templado, pers. comm.).
Elysia tomentosa Jensen, 1997
Material photographed: Uc Adalar: 6m, September, 2001; 20m, April
2002; 18m, October 2002; 24m, September, 2003; Tekirova, 10m,
September 2002.
Remarks. Olive green, more or less covered with tiny yellowish white
dots. Body extremely papillose, almost invisible in its habitat. Common,
always on Caulerpa racemosa(7).
Syphonota geographica(Adams & Reeve, 1850)
Material photographed: Fethiye, 10 m, on sand, December 2002; Uc
Adalar, 27m, on Caulerpa prolifera, May 2003.
Remarks. Syphonota geographicacan be distinguished from species of
Aplysiaby the position of the rhinophores, close together and set back
between the parapodial lobes. Rarely observed on seagrass beds on the
southwestern coast of Turkey, its distribution range may be extended to as
far as Italy (8).
Plocamopherus ocellatusRuppell & Leuckart, 1828
Material photographed: Kas, 10m, on rocky habitat, August 1998.
Remarks. The unique colouration distinguishes this species form
Mediterranean congenerics. The single specimen recorded here is the third
Mediterranean record, the others being from Israel (9) and Lebanon (10).
For photographs and discussion see ref. 11.
Hypselodoris infucataRüppell & Leuckart, 1830 or 1831
Material photographed: Fethiye: 12m, rocky habitat, June 2000.
Remarks. Previously reported from Iskenderun Bay, southeastern
Turkey (12, 13).
Melibe viridisKelaart, 1858
Material photographed: Kas: 7m, June 2000; Tekirova: 6m, on sand,
August 2001.
Remarks. Seemingly well established on the Levantine basin, but never
reported from Turkey before (14). Rarely observed in shallow water on
muddy sand (15).
Flabellina rubrolineata(O’Donoghue, 1929)
Material photographed: Always on hydroids. Uc Adalar: 20m, July
2001; 8m, September 2002; Kas: 18m, September 2002; Bodrum: 10m, on
rocky habitat, August 2003.
Remarks. Only a single specimen has been previously reported from
Israel (16). It is the most abundant Flabellinaspecies observed on hydroid
colonies (Eudendriumsp). See ref. 17 for photographs and discussion.
Acknowledgment.Thanks to Adnan Buyuk, Ferda Buyukbaykal,
Nazmi Kural and Orhan Aytur for photographic data; Kathe Jensen, Jose
Templado and Angel Valdés for scientific advice. Study partially funded
by WWF-Turkey.
References
1-Ozturk, B., Onen, M., Dogan, A. and Urkmez, D., 2002. The lessepsian
molluscs of the Mediterranean and their distribution along the Turkish coasts. Pp.
62-70. In:Ozturk, B., & Basusta, N. (eds.), Workshop on Lessepsian Migration
Proceedings, Turkish Marine Research Foundation Publ.: 9, Istanbul.
2-Heller & Thompson, T.E. 1983 Opisthobranch molluscs of the Sudanese Red
Sea. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 78(4): 317-348.
3-Zenetos, A., Gofas, S., Russo, G., Templado, J. 2003. CIESM Atlas of exotic
species in the Mediterranean, Vol. 3. Molluscs. CIESM, Monaco, 376 p.
4-Rudman, W.B., 2003 (January 3) Haminoea cyanomarginataHeller &
Thompson, 1983.Sea Slug Forum.http://www.seaslugforum.net/hamicyan.htm
5-Rudman, W. B., 1999 (July 12) Oxynoe viridis (Pease, 1861).Sea Slug Forum.
http://www.seaslugforum.net/oxynviri.htm
6-Rudman, W.B., 2001 (November 19). Elysia grandifoliaKelaart, 1858. Sea
Slug Forum.http://www.seaslugforum.net/elysgran.htm
7-Rudman, W.B., 2003 (July 23). Elysia tomentosaJensen, 1997. Sea Slug
Forum.http://www.seaslugforum.net/elysgran.htm
8-Rudman, W.B., 1999 (May 26). Syphonota geographica(Adams & Reeve,
1850). Sea Slug Forum.http://www.seaslugforum.net/syphgeog.htm.
9-Barash, A. and Danin, Z., 1982. Mediterranean Mollusca of Israel and Sinai:
composition and distribution. Israel Journal of Zoology, 31: 86-118.
10-Valdés, A. & Templado, J. 2002. Indo-Pacific dorid nudibranchs collected in
Lebanon (eastern Mediterranean). Iberus 20 (2): 23-30.
11-Rudman, W.B., 2002 (November 27). Comment on Plocamopherus ocellatus
from Turkey by Erwin Koehler. Sea Slug Forum.http://www.seaslugforum.net/
find.cfm?id=8516
12-Çevik, C., Ozturk, B., 2001. A new lessepsian mollusc Hypselodoris infucata
(Ruppell & Leuckart, 1828) (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) for the coasts of Turkey.
Turkish journal of Zoology, 25, p. 27-30.
13-Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Feb 11). Comment on Hypselodoris infucatafrom the
Mediterranean Sea by Orhan Aytur. Sea Slug Forum.http://www.seaslug
forum.net/find.cfm?id=9145
14-Thompson T.E. and Crampton D.M., 1984. Biology of Melibe fimbriata, a
conspicuous opistobranch mollusc of the Indian Ocean, which has now invaded
the Mediterranean Sea. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 50: 113-121.
15-Rudman, W.B., 1999 (January 7) Melibe viridisKelaart, 1858. Sea Slug
Forum.http://www.seaslugforum.net/meliviri.htm.
16-Gat, G., 1993. Flabellina rubrolineata(O’Donoghue) and Phidiana indica
(Bergh) (Nudibranchia Aeolidioidea), two new Lessepsian immigrants in the
Eastern Mediterranean. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 59: 120.
17-Rudman, W.B., 1998 (January 9) Flabellina rubrolineata(O’Donoghue,
1929). Sea Slug Forum.http://www.seaslugforum.net/?abrubr.htm.
