The nudibranchs (Gastropoda Heterobranchia) of the central- eastern coast of Sicily, II: Suborder Doridina

Abstract

Through the present study, new data on the biology and ecology of dorids along the central-eastern coast of Sicily (Italy), whose knowledge was previously scant and fragmentary, have been here provided. After a brief description of this group of nudibranchs, for each species data on morphology, abundance, location and depth, substrates and habitats, seasonality and remarks are here given. Moreover, through this study, two species, Crimora papillata Alder et Hancock, 1862 and Geitodoris portmanni (Schmekel, 1972) are reported for the first time for the central-eastern coast of Sicily. This study highlighted that along this area there is almost the 28% of the total Mediterranean dorid fauna. Consequently, only through a continuous monitoring, it is possible to achieve a good knowledge of any group of marine heterobranchs in a given area. Bal-299 The nudibranchs (Gastropoda Heterobranchia) of the central-eastern coast of Sicily, II: Suborder Doridina 307 The nudibranchs (Gastropoda Heterobranchia) of the central-eastern coast of Sicily, II: Suborder Doridina cea ; Cladophora sp. with filamentous algae; on the sponges C. crambe and Dysidea sp.; on the bryozoans M. truncata and R. violacea ; and on the tunicate P. 317 The nudibranchs (Gastropoda Heterobranchia) of the central-eastern coast of Sicily, II: Suborder Doridina