taxonID	type	description	language	source
087D7947FF83FFE31A8627088995FB51.taxon	type_taxon	Type species: Dendronotus frondosus (Ascanius, 1774), by original designation.	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF83FFE41A86264D8850FE42.taxon	description	(Figures 1 A – C, 2, 3, 4, 5)	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF83FFE41A86264D8850FE42.taxon	materials_examined	Material Examined: Holotype: CASIZ 087013, Indonesia, Sulawesi, Celebes Sea, Manado, Bunaken Island, under rock. 12 mm alive (6 mm preserved), 46 m depth, 15 May 1990, collected by P. Fiene. Paratypes: CASIZ 175613, one adult specimen completely dissected, 15 mm alive (same locality, date and collector as holotype). CASIZ 078543, Indonesia, Sulawesi, Celebes Sea, Manado, Bunaken Island, found out of rock, 1 adult specimen 9 mm alive (6 mm preserved), 40 m depth, 23 May 1991, collected by P. Fiene. CASIZ 097622, Indonesia, Lembeh Strait, three adult specimens 5, 6 and 10 mm preserved, all dissected, collected by D. J. Ecenbarger.	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF83FFE41A86264D8850FE42.taxon	etymology	Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the color pattern of the animal, which resembles the overcoat of a king. From Latin: " regius " = royal. Also, this species is dedicated to Joaquim Reis (From Portuguese: " rei " = king).	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF83FFE41A86264D8850FE42.taxon	distribution	Distribution: Thus far, only known from Indonesia (present study; Warren 1998, 2000; Kodiat 2005; Tomeno 2006; Dotulong 2006; Huang 2007), Philippines (Izumi 2007) and Malaysia (Grall 2008). External morphology (Fig. 1 A – C): The general body shape is delicate and limaciform, laterally compressed, with a rounded dorsum and a tapering, pointed posterior end of the foot. The foot is narrow, rounded in front, and not sharply marked off from the body. The notum is not distinctly marked other than by the line of dorsolateral processes. The lateral sides of the body surface have a few low tubercles. The cardiac elevation is prominent. The body wall musculature is thin. The anterior end of the body is rounded with three different branched groups of veil papillae on either side of the mouth (Fig. 2 A). The series nearest the mouth are the shortest, with three small branches. Laterally there is a second tentacle made up of eight branches. The dorsalmost branch is the most branched, with a main long stalk and many shorter branches arising from it. The rhinophores consist of very tall stalks inclined forward. The sheath margin extends into four elongate and branched processes, most of them with a main longer papilla and three to four smaller ones (Fig. 2 B). The most posterior papilla is larger than the others and also is divided into at least four branches. Midway between the base of the rhinophoral sheath and the sheath margin there is another laterally extending branch with threefour short papillae. The rhinophores are perfoliate with about 10 to 11 lamellae. There are three to four pairs of strongly branched dorsolateral processes along the margins of the dorsum. The first pair of dorsolateral processes is the largest and most branched (Fig. 2 C) and the remaining pairs decrease in size and number of branches toward the posterior end of the body. Each dorsal process has a strong stalk, which ends in an elongate papilla several times branched on its base. Half way between the base of the dorsolateral process and the branches of the main papilla there are four smaller papillae. These papillae are shorter and branch three to four times with these branches extending from around each side of the main stalk. The anal opening is along the dorsolateral line about midway between the first and second dorsolateral processes on the right side. The small renal pore is just dorsal to the anal opening. The reproductive openings are on the right side below the dorsolateral line, about midway between the rhinophore and the first dorsolateral process. The preserved specimen is white with brown patches all over the surface, including the stalk and branches of the rhinophoral sheaths and dorsolateral processes. The lamellae of the rhinophores are normally brown. A color picture of one animal alive (CASIZ 078543) shows a yellow background color pattern, with the patches described above as dark blue or brown (Fig. 1 A) and with orange rhinophoral lamellae. Slight variation in this color theme has been observed and photographed (Rudman 2000). These photographs show animals with a creamy white body with pale orange on the notum and irregular dark brown patches down its length (Fig. 1 B – C). Alimentary Canal: The anterior digestive tract begins with an oval-shaped mouth opening surrounded by glandular, external lips. Internally, there are large tubular labial glands surrounding the lateral sides of the mouth and a high number of smaller, rounded frontal glands. The inner lips are strongly muscular and their inner concave face is covered with a strong cuticle that thickens progressively backward and forms a prehensile collar that surrounds the inner opening of the mouth just in front of the masticatory processes of the jaws (Figs 2 F; 3 A – B). From this point the cuticle tends to fray out into an irregular fringe of blunt rodlets (Fig. 3 B). The jaws are elongate and concave in form (Figs 2 D; 3 A) with a strongly convex posterior border. The masticatory process (Figs 2 E; 3 A – C) is united to the ventral border of the mandible by a thick, arched expansion. The margin of the process bears a series of 20 – 30 denticles. These begin a short distance below the hinge as slight elevations terminating in short, low, parallel ridges on the outer face of the process. These gradually increase in size to form distinct ridge-like denticles (Figs. 2 E; 3 A – C). The radular formulae are: 15 mm specimen, 36 x 9.1.9 (CASIZ 175613), 6 mm specimens, 35 x 7.1.7 (CASIZ 078543) and 31 x 7.1.7, 32 x 6.1.6 (CASIZ 097622). The median teeth are large and strong with a quadrilateral base and a strong triangular cusp directed upward and backward at an angle of about 45 ° to the base (Fig. 2 G). The lateral margins are highly denticulate, bearing 15 to 20 long and pointed denticles that decrease in length as they approach the cusp (Fig. 2 G – H). There are from six to nine lateral teeth, each consisting of a thin, elongate, flattened plate. Their posterior thickened margins are elevated and prolonged into strong points and curve towards the mid-line of the radula. The outer border of the cusps bears a series of six to seven sharp denticles. The outermost lateral tooth is narrow with a straight and smooth apex (Fig. 2 H). The buccal bulb is large, elongate, muscular and mostly rectangular in shape. The salivary glands consist of one pair. Their ducts pass through the nerve collar and enter the dorsal side of the buccal bulb close behind the exit of the oesophagus. The oesophagus emerges from the pharyngeal bulb and is short and wide. It opens into a rounded and large stomach that is thickened with folds. The stomach loops downward on the right, doubles sharply back upward, passes transversely over the dorsal face of the viscera and narrows into the intestine, which loops back down the right side to the anus. Two anterior and one posterior thin-walled lobes of the digestive gland open into the anterior region of the stomach. The anterior lobes send large branches up into the bases of the first pair of dorsolateral processes and to the rhinophoral sheaths. The posterior lobe lies beneath the lobules of the ovotestis throughout its entire length and branches into all of the posterior dorsolateral processes on each side. Reproductive system (Fig. 4): The reproductive system is triaulic. The ovotestis is made of up to twelve closely packed, rounded or somewhat pyriform lobules lying above the digestive gland in the posterior part of the body. The hermaphroditic duct passes forward from the ovotestis and expands into a sausage-shaped ampulla, which forms a closed loop upon the inner face of the anterior genital complex. Three ducts arise from the ampulla. The most anterior duct narrows and gives rise to the vas deferens. The proximal segment of the vas deferens widens at once into a large prostate with the proximal limit being marked by a closely set ring of alveolar glands. Beyond the group of alveoli, the vas deferens is coiled and gradually narrows towards the base of a large preputial sac. The penis is unarmed and tapering (Fig. 2 I). The next duct (oviduct) extends almost immediately into the thin-walled fertilization chamber of the female glandular mass. The third duct terminates in a long and wide vagina. Upon its second distal loop from the ampulla it bears a well-developed bursa copulatrix beyond which the vagina tapers into the vaginal duct. Just before the entrance into the gland complex, the proximal end of the vagina forms a very coiled and irregular section, which we think could work as seminal receptacle. The nidamental gland opens separately from the vagina.	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF83FFE41A86264D8850FE42.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Dendronotus regius is clearly distinctive in its external appearance from other species of the genus. Externally, the only already described species with even a remotely similar color pattern is D. lacteus (Thompson), which is found in European waters (Table 1). Dendronotus lacteus has an opaque white body with brown spots, but these spots are much smaller and spread further apart. The rhinophores of D. lacteus are white instead of orange or brown (Table 1). The tips of dorsal processes and papillae in this new species are dark brown, while in D. lacteus are white (Thollesson 1998). This specimen is also clearly different from D. lacteus in radula morphology. Dendronotus lacteus has no denticulation on the lateral teeth according to Thollesson (1998) or minimal denticulation (Fig. 13 C) and the median tooth of D. lacteus (Fig. 13 B) is not as elongate as the one found in D. regius. Regarding the reproductive system, D. lacteus has a much longer and convoluted distal vas deferens (Thollesson 1998) than D. regius. Because this species has a large cardiac prominence and body tubercles, it must also be compared to D. frondosus (Ascanius), D. albus MacFarland and D. subramosus MacFarland. Branching patterns of the dorsolateral processes are very different. It is unusual in Dendronotus to find such a robust, thick primary stalk compared to the small, delicate secondary and tertiary branches that extend from it. The most unique feature in the reproductive system of this new species is the vas deferens. It is thicker and shorter than any other species of Dendronotus. It is most similar to D. subramosus, but there are many other differences to distinguish these two, for example in the location, size, and shape of the bursa copulatrix. In D. subramosus the bursa copulatrix is very small, rounded, and located very close to the opening of the vagina (Robilliard 1970). Details of the radula of D. albus MacFarland, D. frondosus (Ascanius) and D. subramosus MacFarland are shown in Figures 8, 11 and 16, respectively. The alveolar glands of the prostate are also much larger and fewer in number than in D. regius. In the radula, the median tooth of D. regius (and D. noahi) is also unique. In these new species, in the inner margin of the tooth, the width of the chevron seems to decrease towards the lateral sides of each tooth (Fig. 5). However, other Dendronotus species have median teeth in which the width of the chevron shape does not change from the left end of the tooth to the right end. Figures 7 – 16 show this character and other radula and jaw details for most already described species. We discuss further comparisons between both new species under the remarks following the description of D. noahi.	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF88FFF21A86204B8EE0F86A.taxon	description	(Figures 1 D, 6 A – B)	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF88FFF21A86204B8EE0F86A.taxon	materials_examined	Material Examined: Holotype: CASIZ 075085, Papua New Guinea, North coast, outer barrier reef, Bagabag Island, off New Year’s Bay, 4 mm preserved, immature, 30.5 m depth, 26 November 1990, collected by T. M. Gosliner.	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF88FFF21A86204B8EE0F86A.taxon	etymology	Etymology: Named after junior author’s nephew.	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF88FFF21A86204B8EE0F86A.taxon	distribution	Distribution: Thus far, known from the type locality, Bagabag Island (Papua New Guinea). External morphology (Fig. 1 D): The general body shape is limaciform, tall and laterally compressed with a short, pointed posterior end of the foot. The foot is narrow, rounded in front, not sharply marked off from the body, tapering rapidly to the posterior end of the foot. The lateral margin is not prominent other than the line of processes. The body surface has a few low tubercles, some in the mid-dorsal line and some on both sides of the body. The cardiac elevation is prominent. The head is rounded, its velar margin marked by a series of three paired, stout, branched processes oriented anteriorly. The two nearest the mouth on either side are smaller with three short blunt branches and the next outermost is larger with a longer central branch and three short branches. The outermost pair is the largest with six branches of irregular length. The rhinophores consist of tall stalks inclined anteriorly. The sheath margin is expanded into four simple processes; the two most anterior processes are simple and about the same length and the two most posterior processes are the longest. Of these latter two processes, the inner one is longer and with a small branch about half way to the tip. On the outer side of each stalk, at its base, there is also a small papilla. The conical clavus is perfoliate with 9 robust lamellae. The lamellae of the rhinophores are orange. There are four processes on either side, arranged in pairs along the dorsolateral margins of the back. The distance between of each pair of dorsolateral processes is about the same. The first pair is the largest, the remaining decreasing in size towards the tail. The last pair is very small and simple. The first and second pairs of dorsolateral processes have a main central branch with two very small processes close to the tip. Close to the base on the outer side there are two elongate papillae and a slightly more distally on the inner side there are two more elongate papillae. The third pair of dorsolateral processes is similar to the first and second pairs but the outer and inner papillae are very small. The anal opening is along the dorsolateral line about midway between the first and second dorsolateral processes on the right side. The small renal pore lies just dorsal to the anal elevation. The reproductive openings are not visible in this specimen. The background color of the animal is transparent white. Wide, black branches of the digestive gland can be seen through the transparent tissue (Fig. 1 D). Once dissected, the digestive gland shows a brown pigmentation with darker brown spots on it. Alimentary Canal: The mouth opening is T-shaped surrounded by thick, muscular lips. There are two close sets of six relatively long tubular labial glands extending deep into the sub-epithelial tissue. The pharyngeal bulb is large. The lip disk is small and covered by a thin and delicate cuticle with small rodlets on it. The inner side of this cuticle is continuous with the masticatory process of the mandibles. The mandibles are concave and oval, resembling a mussel shell in overall shape. They are thin and arched with a masticatory margin armed with a series of plates. The oesophagus is short and narrow. There is a pair of small and branching salivary glands attached to the exit of the oesophagus. The oesophagus emerges from the pharyngeal bulb, bends to the right side and dilates into the anterior part of the wide stomach. The stomach bears a series of folds. In its posterior bend the stomach receives the ducts of the digestive gland. The digestive gland is divided into three separate lobes; paired right and left anterior lobes and a single posterior one, which extends backwards ventrally below the ovotestis to the posterior part of the body cavity. The posterior portion of the digestive gland sends off branches to the tip of the second, third and fourth pairs of dorsolateral processes. The right and left anterior portions of the digestive gland each have two very long branches, one branch going to the tip of the main papillae of the first dorsolateral process and one going to the largest posterior branch of the rhinophore sheath. The radular formula is 18 x 4.1.4. The median tooth is robust and at least twice as long as it is wide. The lateral margins of the thick strong cusp bear about fifteen elongate denticles that decrease in size toward the cusp (Fig. 6 A). There are four lateral teeth, each consisting of a thin, flattened plate with a thickened posterior margin that is elevated and prolonged into a strong pointed curve toward the mid-line of the radula. The outer border of the cusps bears a series of seven or eight sharp denticles. The innermost lateral has a diminished cusp with seven to eight denticles that are nearly equal size. The outermost lateral is quite narrow, with a small apex that is nearly straight and smooth (Fig. 6 B). Reproductive system: The lobules of the ovotestis are not fully developed, but there are traces of about twelve very small and irregular hermaphroditic acini lying above the digestive gland in the posterior part of the body. The rest of the reproductive system remains immature.	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF88FFF21A86204B8EE0F86A.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Only Dendronotus frondosus, D. subramosus, and a few specimens of D. albus have been reported as having tubercles (Robilliard 1970). Of these, this specimen of D. noahi most closely resembles D. frondosus in radula morphology (Figure 11). There are differences in the number of rows but it has been suggested that the number of rows in D. frondosus may be correlated with the length of the organism (Robilliard 1970). In this specimen, the radular formula (18 × 4.1.4) differs from the accepted range of D. frondosus (29 – 49 × 7 – 14.1.7 – 14). The median tooth however has a slightly different shape that is also present in D. regius, although not to the same degree as in D. regius (Fig. 5). All other major radula characteristics are the same with D. frondosus, including number of denticles on median tooth, degree of denticulation (length of furrow), presence of denticulation and slight curvature on all lateral teeth except the outer one or two (Robilliard 1970). In external morphology, however, D. frondosus and this new species are very different, especially in the degree of branching of the dorsolateral processes and papillae. Dendronotus frondosus has a much more arborescent appearance with three main stalks per fan-shaped dorsolateral process that end with transparent tips on the secondary and tertiary branches (Robilliard 1970), unlike the single main stalk described in this specimen with two sets of papillae extending laterally and medially at different levels along each dorsolateral process. Like D. noahi, the crown papillae in D. frondosus typically have little or no secondary branching, but sheath papillae are found at the base of this new species instead of midway up the sheath as in D. frondosus (see Robilliard 1970). These papillae are also very small, unlike in D. frondosus where they may branch and be just as long and arborescent as the dorsolateral processes (Robilliard 1970). Another difference between D. frondosus and this specimen is in the veil papillae. Unlike D. noahi, in which the most distal of the three veil papillae are longest, the innermost (medial) of four veil papillae is longest in D. frondosus (see Robilliard 1970). The background coloration of this specimen is very distinct, especially with the bright orange rhinophores. In D. frondosus the rhinophores match the variable ground color of the body (Table 1). Also, the tubercles are missing the yellow or white pigmentation that is normally found in D. frondosus (see Robilliard 1970). For external morphology, this new specimen most closely resembles D. albus, but only because of its delicate and translucent appearance. They share the extension of dark digestive glands into the dorsolateral processes and rhinophore sheaths, but the similarities end there. In D. albus, the digestive glands blend into a yellow-copper or white color at the tips of the dorsolateral processes and papillae (MacFarland 1966, Robilliard 1970). In this specimen the tips remain translucent except in the longest crown papilla of each sheath where they also turn white. The radula of D. albus is markedly different in formula (32 – 38 × 6 – 8.1.6 – 8, see Fig. 8 A – C and Table 1) and in median tooth morphology (MacFarland 1966, Robilliard 1970). The only other species with which this specimen shares characteristics that are not commonly found within the genus is D. subramosus, but the only similarities are the body tubercles and the large cardiac prominence. Differences in radulae and external morphology are numerous. The median teeth of D. subramosus are more squared towards the base and the lateral teeth do not curve towards the midline as in D. noahi (Figs 16 A and 6 A). In D. subramosus, only the first pair of dorsolateral processes and the rhinophores receives extensions of the digestive glands, whereas in D. noahi the rhinophores and all of the dorsolateral processes receive these extensions. Also, the pattern of bifurcations in the dorsolateral processes is different, with D. subramosus exhibiting more of a bushy-shaped appearance while D. noahi has more of the fan-shaped appearance (see Fig. 1 D). Regarding the new tropical species, D. noahi and D. regius can be distinguished from each other in a number of ways. Besides possessing distinct color patterns, differences are seen in the radulae, tertiary branch lengths, branching of the crown papillae, and branching of the lateral papillae of the rhinophoral sheath. The outermost lateral teeth of D. noahi are thin while those of D. regius are broader and plate-like (Figs 2 G – H, 6 A – B). Dendronotus noahi has short tertiary branch lengths while in D. regius they are long. Branching of the crown papillae along the rhinophoral sheath margin and in the sheath papillae is only present in D. regius. While both species possess a fan-shaped branching pattern of the dorsolateral appendages, the main stalk in D. regius is much more robust and secondary branches do not occur until about halfway up these appendages. In D. noahi, the secondary branches can be found starting very low and near to the base of the dorsolateral appendages. These differences appear to be unrelated to the small size and immature nature of the single specimen of D. noahi and thus the two species are clearly distinct. Based on its tropical distribution and its distinct characteristics we think is more important to describe this new tropical Indo-Pacific species than keep it on the dark. As soon as new specimens come available the description will be improved.	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF91FFF61A8623E88AADFC5A.taxon	description	(Figures 1 E – F, 6 C – G)	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF91FFF61A8623E88AADFC5A.taxon	materials_examined	Material Examined: CASIZ 174950, Japan, Okinawa, H / S, 3 January 1985, 69 m depth, collected by R. F. Bolland.	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF91FFF61A8623E88AADFC5A.taxon	distribution	Distribution: Thus far, known from Okinawa (present study), Sagami Bay, Japan (Baba 1949) and New Zealand (Miller pers. comm. in Robilliard 1970). External morphology (Fig. 1 E – F): The general body shape is limaciform, delicate, and laterally compressed with a short pointed posterior end of the foot. The foot is narrow, rounded along the anterior margin, not sharply marked off from the body, and tapers rapidly to the posterior end of the foot. The lateral margin is not distinct from the dorsum other than for the line of dorsolateral processes. The body surface is smooth and the cardiac elevation is not prominent. The head is rounded with the frontal veil well defined, bearing three branched processes on either side of the mouth. Of these, the two most medial processes are the largest and most branched. The two more lateral processes are shorter but also have several branches. Along the inner end of the veil there is another smaller and simpler papilla. The large, stout rhinophores are inclined anteriorly and are as tall as the first pair of dorsolateral processes. The clavus is conical and perfoliate with about twelve lamellae and is capable of retracting within the campanulate sheath. The sheath bears three marginal processes; the two posterior processes are larger and simple or with few small branches. The anterior process has three branches that are shorter than the posterior ones. There are eight pairs of elaborately arborescent dorsolateral processes along the margins of the back. The distance between pairs decreases towards the posterior end of the foot, as well as the size and number of branches of each dorsolateral process. The dorsolateral processes have a main stalk that extends into at least four elongate papillae, each of which bears a number of shorter subdivisions. The anal opening is along the dorsolateral line about midway between the first and second dorsolateral processes on the right side. The small renal pore is located just above the anal elevation. The reproductive openings are on the right side below the dorsolateral line about midway between the rhinophore and the first dorsolateral process. The background color of the animal varies from white-translucent (Fig. 1 E) to orange-brown (Fig. 1 F). The largest branches of the rhinophoral sheath papillae as well as those of the main branches of each dorsolateral process and the oral tentacles are of the same color as the body but the tips are opaque white. The remaining shorter branches are dark brown. There are a series of small bright yellow spots over the surface forming a line on either side of the body and also several spots in the mid-dorsal line and the frontal velar. The rhinophores are orange. Alimentary Canal: The single specimen was very poorly preserved. None of the internal features could be examined since the internal organs were completely dry and destroyed. Only the buccal bulb and the protruded penis were studied. The radular formula is 37 x 8.1.8. The median tooth is large and strong with its overall length and width about equal (Fig. 6 C). The dorsal surface is prolonged into a bluntly triangular convex cusp. The lateral margins bear 16 to 19 denticles, similar in size along the margins (Fig. 6 C – D). The cusp of the preceding median tooth sits in a deep depression of the median basal margin of each median tooth (Fig. 5 C). There are eight thin lateral teeth on each side with a flat rectangular base. The inner posterior margin is thickened in the innermost six teeth and elongates into a slightly curved cusp at the inner angle. This cusp is longest and strongest in the forth and fifth lateral teeth. Along the outer margin of this cusp there are six to eight sharp denticles increasing in size towards the base of the tooth. The outermost two laterals have a rudimentary or absent cusp (Fig. 6 C). The mandibles are concave and oval in shape (Fig. 6 E). The masticatory process begins a short distance below the hinge as a slight elevation terminating in short, low, parallel ridges on the outer face of the process. These gradually increase in size to become well-marked ridge-like denticles (Fig. 6 F). The lip disk is small and covered by a thin and delicate cuticle with small rodlets on it (Fig. 6 G). The inner side of this cuticle is continuous with the masticatory process of the mandibles. Due to poor preservation of this specimen, the only part of the reproductive system that could be examined was the penis because it was extended out of the body wall at the time of preservation. The penis is unarmed, elongate and truncated.	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
087D7947FF91FFF61A8623E88AADFC5A.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Dendronotus gracilis was described from Sagami Bay, Japan, where it was found at a depth of 160 m deep. Sagami Bay is located approximately 1,500 kilometers northeast of Okinawa, Japan. Only external features, the radula, and the jaws were described by Baba (1949). All those features are similar to those of the specimen here described, with a few exceptions. The original specimen of D. gracilis has only four velar processes instead of six. The placement of the spots along the dorsum is irregular in Baba’s specimen instead of in a straight line, although Robilliard (1970) found that two specimens of D. gracilis collected in New Zealand by Dr. Michael Miller also had the spots arranged in a linear fashion. Miller’s specimens were found in dredging from 9 to 24 meters. The radular formula of the specimen described by Baba (1949) is 41 × 8.1.8, which is very similar to the 37 × 8.1.8 formula of our specimen. All of these differences could be due to intraspecific variation, especially since only a few specimens have ever been studied. An interesting note that also supports the identification of this animal as D. gracilis Baba, 1949 is that they both have simple, digitiform processes on the rhinophore sheaths, which is an uncommon trait seen within this genus (Robilliard 1970, Valdés & Bouchet 1998). We conclude that our specimen is D. gracilis. This finding increases the range known for the species from temperate to tropical Japan. However, this specimen from Okinawa was collected at a considerable depth (69 m), where waters are colder than near the surface. New specimens from New Zealand should be found and compared with material from Japan to help clarifying the taxonomy of this apparently widely distributed species.	en	Pola, Marta, Stout, Carla C. (2008): Description of the first two tropical Indo-Pacific species of Dendronotus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) with new data of the poorly known species Dendronotus gracilis Baba, 1949. Zootaxa 1960 (1): 45-66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1960.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1960.1.2
