Melanochlamys

Melanochlamys
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Euopisthobranchia clade Cephalaspidea
Superfamily:	Philinoidea
Family:	Aglajidae
Genus:	Melanochlamys Cheeseman, 1881 [1]
Species
See text

Melanochlamys is a genus of headshield slugs in the family Aglajidae. Despite the appearance of its species, this genus must not be confused with nudibranchs. ^[2]

This genus was first described by Cheeseman in 1881 but later malacologists considered it a junior synonym of Aglaja Renier, 1807, until the genus was reinstated by Rudman in 1972 ^[3]

It differs from the other genera in Aglajidae by its external cylindrical body form with small parapodia, the shape of its small, curved and strongly calcified shell, its alimentary canal with a rigid, non-eversible buccal bulb , and the reproductive system with a short duct to the exogenous ( = originating from the outside) sperm sac and a characteristic penis. ^[3]

Species

According to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), this genus contains the following accepted names ^[2] :

• Melanochlamys algirae (Adams A. in Sowerby G.B. II, 1850)
• Melanochlamys handrecki Burn, 2010
• Melanochlamys maderensis (Watson, 1897)
• Melanochlamys papillata Gosliner, 1990
• Melanochlamys queritor (Burn, 1957)
• Melanochlamys wildpretii Ortea, Bacallado & Moro, 2003

Species brought into synonymy 

• Melanochlamys depicta (Renier, 1807) : synonym of Philinopsis depicta (Renier, 1807)
• Melanochlamys seurati (Vayssière, 1926) : synonym of Melanochlamys algirae (Adams A. in Sowerby G.B. II, 1850)

The Seaslug Forum also adds the following names :

• Melanochlamys cylindrica Cheeseman, 1881 ^[4]
• Melanochlamys diomedea (Bergh, 1894) ^[5]
• Melanochlamys ezoensis : considered a synonym of Melanochlamys diomedea ^[6]
• Melanochlamys lorrainae (Rudman, 1968) ^[7]

External links

• Rudman, W.B. (1972) On Melanochlamys Cheeseman, 1881, a genus of the Aglajidae (Opisthobranchia: Gastropoda). Pacific Science, 26(1): 50-62, 8 figs.

References

1. ^ Cheeseman, T.F. (1881) On a new genus of opisthobranchiate Mollusca. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, 13: 224.
2. ^ ^{a b} Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2010). Melanochlamys Cheesman, 1881. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137639 on 2011-02-07
3. ^ ^{a b} Rudman, W.B. (1972) On Melanochlamys Cheeseman, 1881, a genus of the Aglajidae (Opisthobranchia: Gastropoda). Pacific Science, 26(1): 50-62, 8 figs.
4. ^ Sea Slug Forum : Melanochlamys cylindrica; accessed : 7 February 2011
5. ^ The Sea Slug Forum : Melanochlamys diomedea; accessed : 7 February 2011
6. ^ Sea Slug Forum: Melanochlamys ezoensis; accessed : 7 February 2011
7. ^ The Sea Slug Forum : Melanochlamys lorrainae; accessed : 7 February 2011

• Vaught, K.C. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists: Melbourne, FL (USA). ISBN 0-915826-22-4. XII, 195 pp
• Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 180-213
• Rolán E., 2005. Malacological Fauna From The Cape Verde Archipelago. Part 1, Polyplacophora and Gastropoda