Nembrotha_kubaryana Knowpia

Nembrotha kubaryana
	Feeding on tunicates
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Heterobranchia
Order:	Nudibranchia
Suborder:	Doridina
Superfamily:	Polyceroidea
Family:	Polyceridae
Genus:	Nembrotha
Species:	N. kubaryana
Binomial name
	Nembrotha kubaryana; Bergh, 1877
Synonyms
	Nembrotha nigerrima Bergh, 1877

Nembrotha kubaryana, also known as the variable neon slug or the dusky nembrotha, is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Polyceridae.^[3]

Synonymy edit

Its synonyms include Nembrotha nigerrima.^[1]^[2]

The two names Nembrotha nigerrima and N. kubaryana were published simultaneously by Rudolph Bergh in 1877, the first one on page 451, the second on page 454. Yonow & Hayward (1991) treated the two names as synonyms and, acting as first revisers, gave precedence to kubaryana over nigerrima. Pola et al. (2008) agreed with the synonymy, but initially rejected Yonow & Hayward's nomenclatural act, arguing that nigerrima had page precedence over kubaryana. However, the ICZN Code does not contain such a thing as "page precedence", and Yonow & Hayward's (1991) action was valid – and this position has been repeated by Yonow (2011).^[3] Pola et al. reversed their conclusion and accepted Yonow's act as first reviser in a following paper later the same year.^[2]

Distribution edit

This species occurs in the tropical Western Indo-Pacific.^[4]

Description edit

This animal can reach a total length of more than 120 mm. It is a large dark-bodied nudibranch which may have green stripes running down the length of the body or have green raised spots. The margin of the foot and head is a vivid red-orange. The rhinophores and gills may be red or green. Nembrotha kubaryana is easily confused with a similar species, Nembrotha cristata although the latter has no red-orange border on its foot.

Ecology edit

The variable neon slug feeds on ascidians and has been observed feeding on the green-ringed ascidian, Sigillina signifera.^[4]

Nembrotha kubaryana at Verde Island, the Philippines.
N. kubaryana eating Oxycorynia fascicularis tunicates
N. kubaryana near Manado
N. kubaryana in East Timor
N. kubaryana from Bali
N. kubaryana at Wakatobi National Park
Head of N. kubaryana
N. kubaryana with dot pattern at Lembeh, Indonesia
N. kubaryana at Wakatobi National Park
N. kubaryana at Raja Ampat Indonesia
Nembrotha at Negros Oriental Philippines

Chemical defences edit

N. kubaryana uses the toxins in its prey ascidians to defend itself against predators.^[5] It stores the ascidian's toxins in its tissues and then releases them in a slimy defensive mucus when alarmed.^{[citation needed]}

References edit

^ ^a ^b Pola M., Cervera J. L. & Gosliner T. M. (2008) "Revision of the Indo-Pacific genus Nembrotha (Nudibranchia: Dorididae: Polyceridae), with description of two new species". Scientia Marina 72(1): 145-183. doi:10.3989/scimar.2008.72n1145
^ ^a ^b ^c Pola M., Cervera J. L. & Gosliner T. M. (2008) "Description of the First Roboastra Species (Nudibranchia, Polyceridae, Nembrothinae) from the Western Atlantic". Bulletin of Marine Science 83(2): 391-399.
^ ^a ^b Bouchet, P. (2014). Nembrotha kubaryana Bergh, 1877. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=527322 on 2014-12-21
^ ^a ^b Seaslugforum.net
^ Paul, V. J., Lindquist, N., Fenical, W., Chemical defenses of the tropical ascidian Atapozoa sp. and its nudibranch predators Nembrotha spp., MEPS 59:109-118 (1990)