Review Article |
Corresponding author: Sergio P. Barahona ( srgbarahona89@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Nathalie Yonow
© 2023 Alessandra Grández , André Ampuero, Sergio P. Barahona .
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Grández A, Ampuero A, Barahona SP (2023) Peruvian nudibranchs (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Heterobranchia): an updated literature review-based list of species. ZooKeys 1176: 117-163. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1176.103167
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Nudibranchs, as a group, have received limited attention in terms of scientific study along the coastline of Peru. Here, an updated and comprehensive list of nudibranch species found in the Peruvian sea is presented, compiled through an extensive review of relevant literature. This compilation encompasses a total of 31 species, classified into two suborders, 10 superfamilies, 20 families, and 28 genera. With respect to the biogeographic provinces along the Peruvian coast, 23 species inhabit the Warm Temperate Southeastern Pacific province, 18 species occur in the Tropical Eastern Pacific province, and 10 species are found in both provinces, crossing the transitional zone between them. In terms of distribution patterns, two species exhibit a cosmopolitan distribution (Glaucus atlanticus and Fiona pinnata), while two species display a circumtropical distribution (Cephalopyge trematoides and Phylliroe bucephala). One species exhibits a bipolar distribution in the Eastern Pacific and possesses an amphi-South American distribution (Rostanga pulchra). Additionally, six species exhibit an amphi-South American distribution (Rostanga pulchra, Diaulula punctuolata, Doto uva, Tyrinna evelinae, Tyrinna delicata, and Doris fontainii), and two species are endemic to Peru (Corambe mancorensis and Felimare sechurana). This study provides comprehensive information on biogeographical aspects, geographical distributions, and taxonomic updates within the nudibranch species documented in Peru. Furthermore, we discuss the status of species listed in previous literature that have not been confirmed by collections, referring to them as potentially occurring species.
biogeography, bibliographic compilation, geographic distribution, Nudibranchia, Peru, sea slug, taxonomy
Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817 (Subclass Heterobranchia, Infraclass Euthyneura, Superorder Nudipleura) represents an order of exclusively marine gastropod mollusks, distinguished by the absence of shells in the adult stage (
The most recent inventory of aquatic mollusks in Peru, as documented by
The earliest records of nudibranchs in Peru can be attributed to d’Orbigny (1835–1846) and later to
We must emphasize that certain species have been listed in previous publications as occurring in Peru without sufficient evidence, such as assumptions of geographic continuity (e.g., Cadlina sparsa;
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) warm events have been observed to induce southward displacement of tropical species (
The available information on Peruvian nudibranchs remains limited primarily due to a lack of research effort (
A comprehensive review was conducted to compile all available literature pertaining to the order Nudibranchia in Peru. The literature search encompassed diverse sources of information, including peer-reviewed journal articles, books, book chapters, “grey literature” (such as scientific reports and theses), and the Sea Slug Forum (http://www.seaslugforum.net/). Key terms such as ‘Opisthobranchia,’ ‘Heterobranchia,’ ‘Nudibranch,’ ‘Nudibranchia,’ ‘sea slug,’ ‘phylogeny,’ ‘checklist,’ ‘Peru,’ ‘Humboldt,’ and ‘taxonomy’ were employed. Pertinent data, such as type material, geographic distribution, sampling/reporting sites, bathymetric distribution, and biogeographical provinces, were meticulously included. The most up-to-date scientific names were validated through the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS, https://www.marinespecies.org/), and reports (occurrences) were cross-referenced using the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, https://www.gbif.org/) and the iNaturalist database (https://www.inaturalist.org/). Any modifications, revalidations, or refutations pertaining to taxonomy are concisely presented as “Remarks”, accompanied by justifications as needed. Endemic species of Peru are also duly indicated. The distribution map was made using QGIS 3.22.8 software (
The acronyms corresponding to the collections where the type material for certain species is deposited have been included, as follows:
CZA Colección de Zoología Acuática, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima
MHNURP Museo Historia Natural Vera Alleman Haeghebaert, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Santiago de Surco
A total of 31 species, encompassing two suborders, ten superfamilies, 20 families, and 28 genera (Table
Nudibranch species confirmed for Peruvian waters according to the bibliographic compilation of this study.
Suborders (n = 2) | Superfamilies (n = 10) | Families (n = 20) | Species (n = 31) |
---|---|---|---|
Cladobranchia | Aeolidioidea | Aeolidiidae | Spurilla braziliana MacFarland, 1909 |
Facelinidae | Phidiana lottini (Lesson, 1831) | ||
Bajaeolis bertschi Gosliner & Behrens, 1986 | |||
Glaucidae | Glaucus atlanticus Forster, 1777 | ||
Arminoidea | Arminidae | Armina californica (J.G. Cooper, 1863) | |
Dendronotoidea | Dendronotidae | Dendronotus cf. venustus MacFarland, 1966 | |
Dotidae | Doto uva Er. Marcus, 1955 | ||
Hancockiidae | Hancockia schoeferti Schrödl, 1999 | ||
Phylliroidae | Cephalopyge trematoides (Chun, 1889) | ||
Phylliroe bucephala Lamarck, 1816 | |||
Cuthonidae | Cuthona sp. | ||
Fionidae | Fiona pinnata (Eschscholtz, 1831) | ||
Flabellinidae | Kynaria cynara (Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1967) | ||
Coryphellina cerverai (M. A. Fischer, van der Velde & Roubos, 2007) | |||
Proctonotoidea | Janolidae | Janolus rebeccae Schrödl, 1996 | |
Tritonioidea | Tritoniidae | Tritonia sp. | |
Doridina | Chromodoridoidea | Chromodorididae | Tyrinna delicata (Abraham, 1877) |
Tyrinna evelinae (Er. Marcus, 1958) | |||
Felimare agassizii (Bergh, 1894) | |||
Felimare sechurana Hoover, Padula, Schrödl, Hooker & Valdés, 2017 | |||
Felimida baumanni (Bertsch, 1970) | |||
Doridoidea | Discodorididae | Baptodoris peruviana (d’Orbigny, 1837) | |
Diaulula variolata (d’Orbigny, 1837) | |||
Diaulula punctuolata (d’Orbigny, 1837) | |||
Rostanga pulchra MacFarland, 1905 | |||
Dorididae | Doris fontainii d’Orbigny, 1837 | ||
Onchidoridoidea | Corambidae | Corambe lucea Er. Marcus, 1959 | |
Corambe mancorensis |
|||
Goniodorididae | Okenia luna Millen, Schrödl, Vargas & Indacochea, 1994 | ||
Phyllidioidea | Dendrodorididae | Doriopsilla janaina Er. Marcus & Ev. Marcus, 1967 | |
Polyceroidea | Polyceridae | Polycera priva Er. Marcus, 1959 |
Nudibranch species that could potentially occur in Peruvian waters based on the bibliographic compilation of this study.
Suborder (n = 2) | Superfamilies (n = 5) | Families (n = 8) | Species (n = 9) |
---|---|---|---|
Cladobranchia | Aeolidioidea | Aeolidiidae | Aeolidia campbellii (Cunningham, 1871) |
Glaucidae | Glaucus sp. | ||
Phylliroidae | Phylliroe lichtensteinii Eschscholtz, 1825 | ||
Fionoidea | Coryphellidae | Itaxia falklandica (Eliot, 1907) | |
Flabellinoidea | Flabellinidae | Coryphellina marcusorum (Gosliner & Kuzirian, 1990) | |
Doridina | Chromodoridoidea | Cadlinidae | Cadlina sparsa (Odhner, 1922) |
Discodorididae | Gargamella immaculata Bergh, 1894 | ||
Polyceroidea | Polyceridae | Polycera cf. alabe Collier & Farmer, 1964 | |
Thecacera darwini Pruvot-Fol, 1950 |
Chronologically ordered publications listing nudibranch species in the Peruvian sea. Legend: First reports for Peruvian waters: ad'Orbigny (1835–1846), b
d’Orbigny (1835–1846) (sp = 5) |
|
|
|
( |
|
|
This study (sp = 31) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
* nine potentially ocurring species | |||||||
(sp = 7) | |||||||
Doriopsis peruvianaa | Doris peruviana | Dendrodoris peruviana | Doris peruviana | Baptodoris peruviana | Baptodoris peruviana | Baptodoris? peruviana | Baptodoris peruviana § |
Diphyllidia cuvieri | Pleurophyllidia cuvieri | Armina cuvieri | Armina californica | Armina californica § | |||
Phidiana natansa | P. natans/Fiona pinnata | Phidiana natans | P. natans / Fiona pinnata | Fiona pinnata | Fiona pinnata | Fiona pinnata § | |
Phidiana incaa | Phidiana inca | Phidiana inca | Phidiana lottini | Phidiana lottini | Phidiana lottini | Phidiana lottini | Phidiana lottini § |
Glaucus distichoicus | Glaucus distichoicus | Glaucus atlanticus | Glaucus atlanticus | Glaucus atlanticus § | |||
Doris punctuolatab | Doris punctuolata | Anisodoris punctuolata | Diaulula punctuolata | Diaulula punctuolata § | |||
Okenia lunac | Okenia luna | Okenia luna | Okenia luna | Okenia luna | Okenia luna | ||
Cadlina? sparsa* | Cadlina sparsa* | Cadlina sparsa* | Cadlina sparsa* | ||||
Rostanga pulchra* | Rostanga pulchra* | Rostanga pulchra* | Rostanga pulchra** | Rostanga pulchra | |||
Aeolidia serotina* | Aeolidia serotina* | Aeolidia campbellii*§ | |||||
Hypselodoris cf. agassizii | Hypselodoris agassizii | Felimare agassizii | Felimare agassizii § | ||||
Flabellina cf. falklandica* | Flabellina falklandica | Itaxia falklandica*§ | |||||
Dendronotus frondosus | Dendronotus frondosus | Dendronotus cf. venustus | Dendronotus cf. venustus§ | ||||
Doto cf. uva | Doto uva | Doto uva | Doto uva | Doto uva | |||
Polycera cf. alabe | Polycera alabe | Polycera alabe | Polycera cf. alabe | ||||
Tyrinna evelinae | Tyrinna evelinae | Tyrinna evelinae | Tyrinna evelinae | ||||
Bajaeolus bertschi | Bajaeolis bertschi | Bajaeolis bertschi | Bajaeolis bertschi | ||||
Phylliroe lichtensteini* | Phylliroe lichtensteinii* | ||||||
Flabellina cynarad | Flabellina cynara | Kynaria cynara § | |||||
Glossodoris baumannid | Glossodoris baumanni | Felimida baumanni § | |||||
Cuthona sp.d | Cuthona sp. | Cuthona sp. | |||||
Doriopsilla janainad | Doriopsilla janaina | Doriopsilla janaina | |||||
Flabellina sp. 2e | Flabellina cerverai | Flabellina cf. cerverai | Coryphellina cerverai § | ||||
Gargamella immaculata*f | Gargamella immaculata* | ||||||
Doris fontaineig | Doris fontainei | Doris fontainei | Doris fontainii § | ||||
Corambe mancorensish | Corambe mancorensis | ||||||
Diaulula variolatai | Diaulula variolata | Diaulula variolata | |||||
Tyrinna nobilisi | Tyrinna delicata § | ||||||
Tritonia sp.i | Tritonia sp. | ||||||
Spurilla cf. neapolitanaj | Spurilla braziliana | Spurilla braziliana | |||||
Thecacera darwini* | Thecacera darwini* | Thecacera darwini* | Thecacera darwini* | ||||
Polycera privak | Polycera priva | ||||||
Corambe luceak | Corambe lucea | ||||||
Janolus rebeccaek | Janolus rebeccae | ||||||
Hancockia schoefertik | Hancockia schoeferti | ||||||
Felimare sechuranal | |||||||
Cephalopyge trematoidesm | |||||||
Glaucus sp.*m | |||||||
Phylliroe bucephalam | |||||||
Coryphellina marcusorum* |
Presence of nudibranch species inhabiting Peruvian waters along several marine coastal biogeographic provinces according the reporting sites. Legend: the asterisk (*) indicates potentially occurring species in Peruvian waters.
Families | Species | Magellanic | Pacific | Atlantic | Mediterranean Sea | Circumtropical | Cosmopolitan | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Warm Temperate Southeastern Pacific | Tropical Eastern Pacific | Warm Temperate Northeast Pacific | Cold Temperate Northeast Pacific | Galapagos | North Brazil Shelf | Tropical Northwestern Atlantic | Tropical Southwestern Atlantic | West African Transition | Warm Temperate Southwestern Atlantic | Lusitanian | ||||||
Aeolidiidae | Spurilla braziliana | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
Aeolidia campbellii (*) | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Facelinidae | Phidiana lottini | X | X | |||||||||||||
Bajaeolis bertschi | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Glaucidae | Glaucus atlanticus | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
Glaucus sp. (*) | X | |||||||||||||||
Arminidae | Armina californica | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Dendronotidae | Dendronotus cf. venustus | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Dotidae | Doto uva | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Hancockiidae | Hancockia schoeferti | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phylliroidae | Cephalopyge trematoides | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
Phylliroe bucephala | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
Phylliroe lichtensteinii (*) | X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Coryphellidae | Itaxia falklandica (*) | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Cuthonidae | Cuthona sp. | X | X | |||||||||||||
Fionidae | Fiona pinnata | X | X | |||||||||||||
Flabellinidae | Kynaria cynara | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Coryphellina cerverai | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Coryphellina marcusorum (*) | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Janolidae | Janolus rebeccae | X | X | |||||||||||||
Tritoniidae | Tritonia sp. | X | X | |||||||||||||
Cadlinidae | Cadlina sparsa (*) | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Chromodorididae | Tyrinna delicata | X | X | |||||||||||||
Tyrinna evelinae | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Felimare agassizii | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Felimare sechurana | X | |||||||||||||||
Felimida baumanni | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Discodorididae | Baptodoris peruviana | X | ||||||||||||||
Diaulula variolata | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Diaulula punctuolata | X | |||||||||||||||
Rostanga pulchra | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Gargamella immaculata (*) | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Dorididae | Doris fontainii | X | X | |||||||||||||
Corambidae | Corambe lucea | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Corambe mancorensis | X | |||||||||||||||
Goniodorididae | Okenia luna | X | ||||||||||||||
Dendrodorididae | Doriopsilla janaina | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Polyceridae | Polycera priva | X | X | |||||||||||||
Polycera cf. alabe (*) | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Thecacera darwini (*) | X | X |
Peru’s inventory of nudibranch species is comparatively modest in comparison to other South American countries, such as Chile, Colombia, and Brazil (Fig.
A Nudibranch species richness by country B Venn diagram illustrating the shared species count among countries. Only the confirmed species from Peru were considered. The counts of nudibranch species for neighboring countries were derived from a comprehensive literature review (data not shown).
Reporting sites for nudibranch species found in Peruvian waters whose geographic ranges are limited to South America. The gray band highlights the locations where these species have been reported along the Peruvian coastline. The coastal marine biogeographic classification introduced by
Superfamily Aeolidioidea Gray, 1827
Family Aeolidiidae Gray, 1827
Benthic.
0–10 m (
Holotype
This species exhibits a distribution range spanning the western Atlantic, extending from Florida to Brazil (
In Peru, it was reported in Ferrol Bay (Chimbote, 09°06'S) (
Family Facelinidae Bergh, 1889
0–15 m (
Not available.
From Puerto Malabrigo (La Libertad, Peru, 07°42'S) (
In Peru, it was initially reported in Callao as Phidiana inca by d’Orbigny, (1835–1846) and
Initially designated as Phidiana inca (d’Orbigny, 1837) until research by
Benthic.
3–8 m (
Holotype
Eastern Pacific, from Baja California (Mexico, 28°N) to the northern coast of Peru (04°S) (
In Peru, it was reported in Playa Las Pocitas (Mancora, Piura, 04°06'S) (
Family Glaucidae Gray, 1827
Pelagic.
Neustonic (
Not available.
Cosmopolitan and circumtropical (
Off the northern coast of Chile (
Included in
Superfamily Arminoidea Iredale & O’Donoghue, 1923 (1841)
Family Arminidae Iredale & O’Donoghue, 1923 (1841)
Benthic.
11–268 m (
Not available.
Eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of Alaska (
In Peru, it was reported in Paita (Piura) (
In Peru, it was initially reported in Paita (Piura) (
Superfamily Dendronotoidea Allman, 1845
Family Dendronotidae Allman, 1845
Benthic.
5–20 m (
Not available.
From Alaska (
in Peru, it was reported in Pucusana (12°25'S) as Dendronotus cf. venustus (
Family Dotidae Gray, 1853
Benthic.
0–15 m (
Not available.
Amphi-South American. On the Pacific side of South America, it extends from Callao (Peru, 12°S) to Comau Fjord (Chile, 42°S) (
In Peru, it was reported in Callao (12°S), San Juan de Marcona (15°21′S), Islas Ballestas (13°44′S) (
Molecular studies are needed to clarify the genetic identities of the populations on both sides of South America (
Family Hancockiidae MacFarland, 1923
Benthic.
0–3 m (
Holotype
San Juan de Marcona, Peru (15°21′S) (
In Peru, it was reported for the first time in San Juan de Marcona (Ica, 15°21′S) (
Family Phylliroidae Menke, 1830
Pelagic.
40 m (
Not available.
Circumtropical (
In Peru, it was reported in Piura (
Originally described as Phylliroe trematoides Chun, 1889. The samples described in
Pelagic.
40–60 m (
Not available.
Circumtropical (
In Peru, it was reported in Tumbes and Piura (
Family Cuthonidae Odhner, 1934
Benthic.
5–7 m (
Northern coast of Peru.
Cancas (Tumbes, 03°56'S) (
Description provides a length of 5 mm, body completely white, including rhinophores and oral tentacles with a translucent base. In addition, the specimen had dark, reddish-brown cerata without the white tip, which would differentiate it from other species of the genus (
Family Fionidae Gray, 1857
Pelagic.
Neustonic (
Not available.
Cosmopolitan (
In Peru, it was reported in Lima (d’Orbigny 1835–1846;
Originally named Eolidia pinnata
Family Flabellinidae Bergh, 1889
5–8 m (
Holotype
Eastern Pacific, from Gulf of California (Mexico, 28°N) (
In Peru, it was reported in Punta Sal (03°56'S), Cancas (03°56'S), Mancora (04°6'S), Chimbote (09°4'S), and Ancash (09°S) (
The species was originally described as Coryphella cynara Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1967 and reported along the Peruvian coast as Flabellina cynara (
Benthic.
0–10 m (
Holotype
From Sechura Bay (Peru, 05°49'S) to Coliumo Bay (Chile, 36°32'S).
In Peru, it was reported in Sechura Bay (05°49'S) (
The species was first reported as Flabellina sp. 2 (
Superfamily Proctonotoidea Gray, 1853
Family Janolidae Pruvot-Fol, 1933
2–12 m (
Holotype
From Sechura Bay (Peru, 05°49'S) (
In Peru, it was reported in Sechura Bay (05°49'S) and Paracas (13°43'S) (
Superfamily Tritonioidea Lamarck, 1809
Family Tritoniidae Lamarck, 1809
5–15 m (
From Foca Island (Piura, Peru, 05°12'S) to Punta Picata (Tacna, Peru) (
In Peru, it was reported in Foca Island (Piura, 05°12'S), Santa Island (09°01'S), Ferrol Bay (Chimbote, 09°06'S), Punta El Huaro (Casma, Ancash, 09°37’S), La Gramita (Casma, Ancash, 09°43'S), Punta Patillos (Huarmey, 09°53'S), Punta Colorado (Huarmey, Ancash, 10°29′S), Pucusana (Lima, 12°25'S), Isla Asia (Lima, 12°47'S), Isla La Vieja (Independencia Bay, Pisco, Ica, 14°16′S) and Punta Picata (Tacna, 17°52'S) (
It bears resemblance to Tritonia odhneri (common in Chile) in terms of its external morphology, while displaying similarities to Tritonia festiva (found in Alaska, Baja California, and Japan;
Superfamily Chromodoridoidea Bergh, 1891
Family Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891
0–22 m (
Holotype
Amphi-South American. From Pucusana (Lima, Peru, 12°25'S) (Fabián Avilés pers. comm.) to Strait of Magellan (Chile, 53°S) and Peninsula Valdés (Argentina, 42°S) (
In Peru, two specimens were collected (MHNURP, specimens currently lost) in Playa Las Ninfas (Pucusana, Lima, 12°28'49"S) on 23 October 2019, at 1.5–2.0 m depth, 55–60 mm length (Fig.
This species was originally identified as Tyrinna nobilis Bergh, 1898, a name that is currently not accepted.
Benthic.
0–5 m (
Not available.
Amphi-American and West Africa.
In Peru, it was reported in El Rubio (Tumbes, 03°52'S) (
It was initially listed by
Benthic.
7–8 m (
Not available.
From the Gulf of California to the coast of northern Peru.
In Peru, it was reported in Cancas (Tumbes, 03°56'S) (
Originally described as Chromodoris agassizii Bergh, 1894 and reported in Peruvian waters as Hypselodoris agassizii by
6–15 m (
Holotype CZA 402—Foca Island (05°12'13.8"S, 81°12'38.0"W), Piura, Peru.
Northern coast of Peru’s transition zone.
In Peru, it was reported in Punta Veleros (Los Organos, Piura, 04°10'28.7"S) (Zavala, 2022), Quebrada Verde (Piura, 04°13'34.8"S), Foca Island (Piura, 05°12'13.8"S) (
This species is endemic to the northern coast of Peru. It was initially reported as Felimare ghiselini (Bertsch 1978) by
5–8 m (
Not available.
Eastern Pacific, from Gulf of California (28°N) to Cancas (Tumbes, Peru) (
In Peru, it was reported in Cancas (Tumbes, 03°56'S) (
The species was originally reported as Chromodoris baumanni Bertsch, 1970 in the Eastern Pacific (
Superfamily Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815
Family Discodorididae Bergh, 1891
Benthic.
4–15 m (
Holotype
From San Lorenzo Island (Callao, Peru, 12°S) (d’Orbigny 1835–1846) to Los Molles (Valparaíso, 32°15'S) (Fischer and Cervera 2005).
In Peru it was reported for first time as Doriopsis peruviana in San Lorenzo Island (12°05′) by d’Orbigny (1835–1846). It was also reported in Callao (12°S, as Doris peruviana,
Initially reported as Doris peruviana d’Orbigny 1836, transferred to Platydoris Bergh, 1877 by
2–15 m (
Not available.
From Pucusana (Lima, Peru, 12°28'S) (Guzman 2018b) to Punta Hualpén (Concepción, Chile, 36°44'S) (
In Peru, it was reported in Pucusana (Lima, 12°28'S) (Guzman 2018b), El Chaco (Ica, 13°49'S), Caleta Atenas (Ica, 13°49'S), Independencia Bay (Ica, 14°14'S), San Juan de Marcona (Ica, 15°21′S) (
In Chile, it was reported in Arica (18°26'S) (
This species had not been recorded outside Chile (
Benthic.
0–7 m.
Amphi-South American. It is frequently found on the Magellanic coasts of Chile and Argentina.
In Peru, it was collected in Callao (12°S) (
This species was listed as Anisodoris punctuolata (d’Orbigny, 1836) and Doris punctuolata d’Orbigny, 1837 in previous Peruvian articles listing nudibranch species. Both names are currently not accepted.
Benthic.
6–12 m (
Holotype
This species presents a bipolar distribution in the Eastern Pacific and an amphi-South American distribution (
In Peru it was considered a predicted species (
Its distribution in Peruvian Waters was not certain; however, it was listed by
Family Dorididae Rafinesque, 1815
8–17 m (
Holotype
Amphi-South American.
In Peru it was reported in Independencia Bay (14°14'S) (
Erroneously named as Doris fontainei in previous articles.
Superfamily Onchidoridoidea Gray, 1827
Family Corambidae Bergh, 1871
Benthic.
Neotype
0–27 m (
From Bayóvar (Sechura Bay, Peru, 05°49'S) (
In Peru, it was reported in Bayóvar (Sechura Bay, 05°49'S), Callao (pier of IMARPE, 12°03'59"S), Ballestas Islands (Paracas, 13°43'54"S) and San Juan de Marcona (Ica, 15°21′S) (
It was first described as Neocorambe lucea (
Benthic.
0–3 m (
Species only reported off the coast of Mancora (Piura, Peru) (
Endemic species of northern coast of Peru.
Family Goniodorididae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854
4–20 m (
Holotype
From Ancon Bay (Lima, Peru) to Coliumo Bay (Chile).
In Peru, it was collected in Ancon Bay (Lima, 11°47'S) (
First record of the genus Okenia reported in the Southeast Pacific (
Superfamily Phyllidioidea Rafinesque, 1814
Family Dendrodorididae O’Donoghue, 1924 (1864)
Benthic.
0–3 m (
Holotype
From the Gulf of California (28°N) to Cancas (Peru, 03°56'S).
In Peru, it was reported in Cancas (Tumbes, 03°56'S) (Nakamura, 2006). It was also reported in Mexico (Punta Lobos, Sonora), Panama (08°N), and Ecuador (Galapagos Islands, 00°S) (
Superfamily Polyceroidea Alder & Hancock, 1845
Family Polyceridae Alder & Hancock, 1845
Benthic.
10 m (
Holotype
From Paracas (Ica, Peru, 13°43'S) (
In Peru, it was reported in Ballestas Islands (Lima, 13°43'S) (
Peruvian presence of this species was surprising for the discoverers (
Benthic.
Orange Bay (55°31'S), Nassau Bay, Chile (
From Juan López, northern coast of Chile, to Strait of Magellan (
This species was listed by
Pelagic.
Not available.
Ica (Peru).
In Peru,
A confirmation of the taxonomic status of these specimens is necessary, using morphological and molecular analyses.
Benthic.
Falkland Islands (50°S), Argentine and Chilean Patagonia (41°S) to Valparaiso (32°S) (
It was reported off the coast of Chile by
Benthic.
A common species on the southern coast of Chile and Argentina.
Cabo Metalqui, Chiloé (
According to
Benthic.
Juan Fernández Islands and Desventuradas Islands, Chile (
It presents disjunct populations with a bipolar distribution in the eastern Pacific and an amphi-South American pattern.
In the Pacific, the northernmost location is Baja California (
Cadlina sparsa was initially proposed as probable species in Peruvian water by
Studies have demonstrated that C. sparsa does not fall within the family Chromodorididae, as initially suggested (
Benthic.
From Baja California (
In Peru,
Pelagic.
Not available.
Cosmopolitan (
Espiritu Santo, southeastern Brazil (
For Peru, the species was listed in
Benthic.
1–15 m (
Not available.
Abundant in the Magellanic Province, in the Southeast Pacific (
It was included in the list of mollusks of Peru by
According to
Benthic.
3–22 m (
From Brazil to Gulf of California (Mexico) (
In Peru, this species was recently photographed in Los Organos (Piura, 04°10′S) on 11 March 2022 (
Originally named Flabellina marcusorum Gosliner & Kuzirian, 1990. Its presence in Peru needs be confirmed by future surveys.
This article presents an updated compilation of nudibranchs found in Peru, derived from an extensive literature review. The revised and updated scientific names are presented, while species not verified or erroneously listed in previous articles, referred to here as ’potentially occurring’, are separated from those confirmed.
Despite the presence of two distinct coastal marine biogeographic provinces and a transitional zone between them (
It is worth noting that there are areas along the Peruvian coast that remain unexplored. In the Tropical Eastern Pacific, only a limited number of locations have been sampled, including Pocitas, Punta Sal, Mancora, and Cancas. Within the transition zone, Sechura Bay and Foca Island are the common reporting sites, while within the Warm Temperate Southeastern Pacific, Santa, Casma, Huarmey (Ancash), Ancon, Callao, San Lorenzo Island, Pucusana (Lima), Pisco, Independencia Bay, San Juan de Marcona (Ica), Matarani, and Isla Blanca (Arequipa) are frequently mentioned. Factors such as limited exploration efforts, challenging diving conditions, a scarcity of nudibranch taxonomists, and a general lack of interest in this group in Peru should be highlighted. In addition, it is highly likely that several species remain unreported and undescribed, particularly in deeper waters. Therefore, the confirmed number of nudibranch species in Peruvian waters (n = 31) is presumed to represent only a fraction of the actual diversity present.
Several confirmed species exhibit a biogeographical affinity for the Warm Temperate Southeastern Pacific (n = 23) (Fig.
El Niño events can induce shifts in the distribution ranges of sea slugs (
The distribution patterns of cosmopolitan and circumglobal species can be attributed to various biological factors, including their remarkable dispersal capabilities. Take, for instance, Glaucus atlanticus, which possesses intriguing adaptations for dispersal such as larval gas bubbles and specialized anatomy enabling it to exploit water surface tension (
This group of species poses a challenge as they have been consistently listed and referenced in several previous articles (indicated by asterisks in Table
A solitary specimen of Coryphellina marcusorum was recently documented through photography on the northern coast of Peru (Los Organos, Piura) (
Potentially occurring species should not be included in the official list of Peruvian nudibranch species. However, considering their disjointed or patchy geographic distributions or unique observations, they may be reported in Peruvian waters in forthcoming papers. Rostanga pulchra, for instance, was a long-standing predicted species for Peruvian waters until its initial sighting in San Juan de Marcona (Ica) by
The genus Polycera displays remarkable color variability, seemingly correlated with its geographic range (
The report of Glaucus sp., documented by
This research contributes to the dissemination and diffusion of this understudied group of organisms in Peru. It is imperative to intensify monitoring efforts to verify the presence of doubtful species, evaluate anthropogenic impacts, and El Niño-driven displacements. Furthermore, considering the intricate nature of external morphological identification, frequent variability in coloration, and the probable existence of cryptic species, it is possible that a considerable number of species remain undiscovered. Consequently, there is an urgent need for comprehensive research involving detailed internal anatomy and the application of molecular tools, such as DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analyses. These methodologies will play a vital role in shedding light on the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships within this group.
We express our profound gratitude to Yuri Hooker, Fabián Avilés, Fabián Encinas, and Jaime Calvo-Pérez for their kindness in providing us with their wonderful photographs of these beautiful marine creatures. We are also grateful for the partial support received from Universidad Científica del Sur (UCSUR). Likewise, we are immensely grateful to the reviewer and editor who have made valuable contributions to the improvement of this manuscript.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
No funding was reported.
Conceptualization: AG. Data curation: AA. Investigation: AG. Methodology: SPB, AG. Software: SPB. Supervision: SPB. Validation: AA. Writing - original draft: AG. Writing - review and editing: SPB.
Alessandra Grández https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0142-9357
André Ampuero https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6929-5423
Sergio P. Barahona https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0136-7205
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text or Supplementary Information.