Al Barash & Z. Danin CONTRIBUTION to the KNOWLEDGE OF
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Boll. Malacologico | 24(1988) | (9-12) | 243-260 | Milano 24-2-1989 Al Barash & Z. Danin CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF OPISTHOBRANCHIA OF CYPRUS ^L-AAüs i n s t i t u Boli Malacoloi M ilano 24-2-1989 0stende ^ Al Barash(*) & Z. Danin(*) 60892 CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF OPISTHOBRANCHIA OF CYPRUS(**) A bstract Some Opisthobranchia (3 5 ) are listed in the publications on malacology of Cyprus. The number of Opisthobranch species increased (25) through the activities of the expeditions orga nized by the Hebrew University-Smithsonian Project. Most Opisthobranchia were collected at the eastern side of the island, especially at Fama gusta. Molluscan immigrants from the Indo-Pacific into the Mediterranean were found mainly on the Levant coast along Sinai, Israel and Labanon. Only a few molluscan species of Indo-Pacific origin were collected at islands as in Cyprus: Trochus erythraeus (B r o c c h i , 1823), Rhinoclavis k o ch i(P h i l i p p i , 1 848), Aspella anceps (L a m a r c k , 1822), Brachidontes variabilis (Kr a u s s , 1848), Malleus regulus (F o r s k a l , 1 775), Pinctada radiata (L e a c h , 1814) and only one species of Opist hobranchia, Berthellina engeli G a r d in e r , 193 6 = Berthellina citrina (R u p p e l l a n d L e u c k a r t , 1828). R iassunto Un certo numero di Opistobrai\chia (35) è riportato nella letteratura malacologica di Cipro. II numero di specie si è accresciuto (altre 2 5 ) per mérito delle spedizioni organizzate dalla Hebrew University-Smithsonian Project. La maggior parte di specie è stata raccolta nella parte orientale dell’isola, soprattutto a Famagosta. L a immigrazione di molluschi dall’Indopacifico in Mediterráneo riguarda essenzialmente le coste del Sinai, Israele e Libano, mentre solo poche specie indopacifiche sono state segnalate per Cipro, cioè: Trochus erythraeus (B r o c c h i , 1 823), Rhinoclavis kochi (P h i l i p p i , 1848) Aspella anceps (L a m a r c k , 1822), Brachidontes variabilis (Kr a u ss , 1 848), Malleus regulus (F o r s k a l , 1 775), Pinctada radiata (L e a c h , 1814) ed un’unica specie di Opisthobranchia, Berthellina engeli G a r d in e r , 1936. The Mollusca of Cyprus have not, up to date, been fully studied. A considerable number of Prosobranchia have been recorded in the following publications: M o n t e r o s a t o (1899) — 22 species; F o d e r a (1961) — 33 spe cies; D emetropoulos (1969, 1971) and D emetropoulos , together with H adjichristophorou (1976) — 115 species, T o r n a r i t i s (1987) - 195 species. However, there are relatively few Opisthobranchia listed in these pub lications — only 36 species (see Table 1). While the shell-bearing species of Opisthobranchia have attracted attention, those with internal shells or the shell-less, have been neglected because of the difficulty of identifying them. The list of the Opistobranchia in the publications on the malacology of Cyprus contains mainly shell- bearing species — 24, as against 11 species devoid of external shell. (*) Telaviv University - Dept, of Zoology - Ramat Aviv - Tel Aviv, Israel (**) Lavoro accettato il 16 aprile 1988 243 Table 1 Opisthobranchia in the publications on malacology of Cyprus (1899-1987) W i t h e x t e r n a l s h e l l L a c k i n g e x t e r n a l s h e l l Chrysallida doliolum (P h i l i p p i , 1 8 4 4 ) Aplysia fasciata P o i r e t , 1 7 8 9 ' Chrysallida excavata (P h i l i p p i , 1 8 3 6 ) Aplysia depilans L.,1 7 6 7 Odostomia michaelis B r u g n o n e , 1 8 7 3 Thuridilla hopei (V e r a n y , 1 8 5 3 ) Odostomia conoidea (B r o c c h i , 1 8 1 4 ) Oscanius membranaceus (M o n t a g u , 1 8 1 5 ) Phasianema clathratum (P h i l i p p i , 1 8 4 4 ) Pleurobranchea meckeli L e u e , 1 8 1 3 Kleinella bulinea (L o w e , 1 8 4 0 ) Hypselodoris elegans (C a n t r a in e , 1 8 3 5 ) Turbonilla lactea (L i n n a e u s , 1 7 5 8 ) G lossodoris gracilis (R a p p , 1 8 2 7 ) Turbonilla rufa (P h i l i p p i , 1 8 3 6 ) Peltodoris atromaculata B e r c h , 1 8 8 0 Actaeon tornatilis (L in n a e u s , 1 7 5 8 ) Dendrodoris grandiflora (R a p p , 1 8 2 7 ) Ringicula conformis M onterosati, 1875 Janolus cristatus (D e l l e C h i a j e , 1 8 4 1 ) Ringicula auriculata (M e n a r d , 1 8 1 1 ) Flabellina affinis (G m e l i n , 1 7 9 1 ) Philine aperta (L i n n a e u s , 1767) Bulla striata B r u g u i e r e , 1789 Haminoea hydatis (L in n a e u s , 1758) Haminoea navicula (D a C o s t a , 1788) Retusa truncatula (B r u c u i è r e , 1792) Retusa umbilicata (M o n t a g u , 1803) Rhizorus acuminatus (B r u g u i è r e , 1792) Akera bullata O F. (M ü l l e r e , 1776) Clio p yram idata (L i n n a e u s , 1767) Clio cuspidata (B o s c , 1802) Carolinia tridentata (F o r s k a l , 1775) Oxynoe olivacea R a f i n e s q u e , 1819 Umbraculum mediterraneum (L a m a r c k , 1819) A stimulus for further exploration of the malacofauna of Cyprus was provided by the Hebrew University — Smithsonian Institution Program. The prime objective of this project was to assess the role of the Suez Canal as a passageway for dispersion of biota between the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean region. In order to achieve this objective, collecting ex peditions were undertaken. These extended from the Gulf of Suez and Aqaba, along the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean and including Rhodes and Cyprus. The marine fauna of Cyprus was investigated by the Project, over 23 days during 1967-1970: Hebrew University, Jerusalem (HUJ) - 22-X-1968 to 19-X-1959 - 10 days Sea Fisheries Research Station, Haifa (SFRS) - 23-VI-1967 to 26-VI- 1967; - 2-XI-1967 to 16-VI-1968 - 7 days. Tel Aviv University (TAU) - 21-VIII-1970 to 27-VIIM970 - 6 days. The activities of the expeditions organized by the Hebrew University - Smithsonian Project yielded a large amount of molluscan species, inclu ding species collected from Cyprus. 2 4 4 The malacofauna of Cyprus was enriched by 73 species of Prosobran chia new to the Island, but the most impressive increase was in the num ber of Opisthobranchia. 24 Opisthobranchia species, new to Cyprus, were collected and the total number of species belonging to this group amounted to 60 (see Table 2). The composition of the Opisthobranchia recorded from Cyprus is, as today, as seen in Table 2 we know. Table 2: The Composition of Opisthobranchia in Cyprus Recorded previously Known at present (1899-1987) Pyramidellomorpha 8 species 14 species Bullomorpha 11 species 17 species Aplysiomorpha 2 species 5 species Thecosomata 3 species 4 species Sacoglossa 2 species 4 species Pleurbranchomorpha 3 species 6 species Nudibranchia 6 species 10 species 35 species 60 species Note the increased number of species known at present external shell amounts to against the 11 species recorded previously in the literature Most Opisthobranchia species were collected on the eastern side of the Island, in the area of Famagusta, Koma tou Yialou, Boghaz and Cape Andreas. Famagusta was especially rich in species — 35 species. All the other areas (Table 3) contributed no more than 5 species each. Table 3 Collecting localities of Opisthobranchia in Cyprus Fam agusta ............................................. 35 species C ape K iti ...................................................2 species A k r o tir i ................................................... 5 species Cape Andreas ........................................ 1 species Ayios Yeoryios .................................... 5 species Koma tou Yialou ................................ 1 species K yrenia 3 species D ekhelia ................................................... 1 species B oghas ..................................................... 2 species Petunda Point ........................................ 1 species Y ia lo u sa .................................................. 2 species C ape P y la ................................................ 1 species 3 5 of Opisthobranchia had been previously recorded from Cyprus, m ainly by D emetropoulos and H adjichristophorou (1969-1976) and T o r n a r i t i s ( 1 9 8 7 ) . Most of the other species (2 5 not yet recorded) were identified by the known specialists on Opisthobranchia: Dr. van J. Aa r t s e n (Holland), Dr. N. E a l e s (England), Dr. H. G a n t e s (France) and the late Dr. H. L e m c h e (Denmark). The authors are much obliged and very grateful to them for their kind assistance. 245 The coastline of Cyprus stretches for 750 Km and is much indented, containing many areas that promise successful collecting of Mollusca. Nevertheless, the number of Opisthobranchia collected is considerably less, for example, than in Israel, where the Mediterranean coasts extends for only ca.