Chromodorididae

Chromodorididae
Glossodoris atromarginata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Bergh, 1891
Type genus
Chromodoris
Genera

See text.

Synonyms[1]
  • Cadlinellinae Odhner, 1934
  • Ceratosomatidae Gray, 1857 (Under Art. 23.9, declared nomen oblitum by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
  • Doriprismaticinae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1858 (Under Art. 23.9, declared nomen oblitum by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
  • Glossodorididae O'Donoghue, 1924
  • Lissodoridinae Odhner, 1968
  • Miamiridae Bergh, 1891
  • Thorunninae Odhner, 1926

The Chromodorididae, or chromodorids, are a taxonomic family of colorful, sea slugs; dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Doridoidea. “Chromodorid nudibranchs are among the most gorgeously colored of all animals.”[2] The over 360 described species are primarily found in tropical and subtropical waters, as members of coral reef communities, specifically associated with their sponge prey. The chromodorids are the most speciose family of opisthobranchs.[3] They range in size from <1mm to over 30 cm, although most species are approximately 2-3 cm in size. [4][1]

Although, they have a worldwide distribution, most species are found in the Indo-Pacific region. A scientific paper published in 2007, found the most widespread chromodorid genera, (Mexichromis, Chromodoris, Glossodoris and Hypselodoris) to be paraphyletic or polyphyletic.[5]

The family Cadlinidae Bergh, 1891 has been considered a synonym of the Chromodorididae. Research by R.F. Johnson in 2011 [6] has shown that Cadlina does not belong to the family Chromodorididae. She has therefore brought back the name Cadlinidae from synonymy with Chromodorididae. The chromodorid nudibranchs without Cadlina are now monophyletic and turn out to be a possible sister to the family Actinocyclidae. Cadlina and Aldisa are the only two genera currently classified in the Cadlinidae.

A comprehensive phylogeny of the chromodorid nudibranchs found every one of the 14 traditional chromodorid genera were either non-monophyletic, or rendered another genus paraphyletic. Additionally, both the monotypic genera Verconia and Diversidoris are nested within clades. The authors presented a new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs, which used molecular data to untangle evolutionary relationships and at the same time retains a historical connection to traditional systematics by using generic names attached to type species as clade names.[7] All Chromodorid nudibranchs feed on sponges.[8]

Genera

Genera within the family Chromodorididae include:[9]

Genera brought into synonymy 


References

  1. 1 2 Bouchet, P. (2011). Chromodorididae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=23003 on 2011-04-05
  2. ↑ Edmunds M (1981) Opishtobranchiate Mollusca from Ghana: Chromodorididae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 71: 175–201.
  3. ↑ Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012) Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33479 http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0033479
  4. ↑ Gosliner, T.M., Behrens, D.W. & A. Valdes (2008) Indo-Pacific Nudibranchs and Sea Slugs: A field guide to the World's most diverse fauna. Sea Challengers Natural History Books and the California Academy of Sciences.
  5. ↑ Turner LM, Wilson NG (2008) Polyphyly across oceans: a molecular phylogeny of the Chromodorididae (Mollusca, Nudibranchia). Zoologica Scripta 37: 23–42.
  6. ↑ Johnson R.F. (2011) Breaking family ties: taxon sampling and molecular phylogeny of chromodorid nudibranchs (Mollusca, Gastropoda). Zoologica Scripta 40(2): 137-157
  7. ↑ Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012) Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33479
  8. ↑ Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jul 21) Review of chromodorid feeding. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  9. ↑ Bouchet, P. (2011). Chromodorididae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=23003
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