Molluscan Research 27(2):
60-88; published 16 July 2007
Copyright © The
Malacological Society of Australasia
A review of feeding
specificity in the sponge-feeding Chromodorididae
(Nudibranchia: Mollusca)
W.B. RUDMAN 1 AND P.R. BERGQUIST
2
1 Malacology Section, The Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, NSW
2010, Australia. E-mail: billr@seaslugforum.net
2 Dept of Anatomy, Medicine and Health Science Campus, University of
Auckland, Private Bag 92019 Auckland, New Zealand. E-mail:
pr.bergquist@auckland.ac.nz
Abstract
New feeding information on 108
species of the sponge-feeding chromodorid nudibranchs is presented,
and published information for
63 species re-evaluated. The combined information for 137 species
shows a clear pattern of food specificity, at both species
and genus levels. New feeding information on the related
Actinocyclidae is also presented. Species of Chromodoris
and related genera prefer
darwinellids; Hypselodoris and
its relatives feed on dysideids, and Glossodoris
feed exclusively on thorectids.
The 'basal' genera, Cadlina,
Cadlinella are
less specialised but both they and species of the anatomically similar
family Actinocyclidae seem
linked by their common choice of Halisarca.
Exceptions to the pattern suggest the genus Chromodoris
is polyphyletic. The evolution of
feeding in the Chromodorididae is discussed, and the patterns of food
specificity are shown to
strongly support prevailing hypotheses on chromodorid evolution.
Recent taxonomic studies within the sponge orders Dictyoceratida
and Dendroceratida have been essential to this study, enabling the
re-identification of many of the food sponges, and
the use of marker secondary metabolites in both the nudibranchs and
their sponge prey.
Key words:
Chromodoris,
Hypselodoris,
Glossodoris,
Actinocyclus,
Hallaxa,
aposematism, Dictyoceratida, Dendroceratida, Halisarcida
Full article (PDF;
950 KB)
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