Abranchaea chinensis Zhang, 1964
Overview
Small naked species, about 0.8 cm long. It has no gills and only a small number of hooks and suckers. It was described from the NW-Pacific (Abranchaea chinensis).
Taxonomic Description
The body is oblong, oval, and pointed posteriorly. It is colourless and transparent, except for the visceral mass. Ciliary rings are present indicating young specimens being concerned. Both posterior and lateral gill are absent (Abranchaea chinensis drawing). The lateral footlobes are fixed over half their length, the posterior footlobe is well developed. The anterior tentacles are prominent. The proboscis is long. On the buccal wall 12 to 18 short stalked suckers are implanted at each side. Median arm with 2 pairs of small suckers, the top sucker is absent. The hooks are about 6 in number. Jaw with several spinules on the top. In the Abranchaea chinensis radula (formula 2-1-2) the median teeth are bicuspoid
Body length up to 7.5 mm.
Juveniles
A special description is not available.
Reproduction
This species is a protandric hermaphrodite.
Ecology
This species is a carnivore.
Distribution
Only known from its type locality in the NW-Pacific, see the Abranchaea chinensis map.
Types
Abranchaea chinensis Zhang, 1964: 178, fig. 43.
Holotype preserved in the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica.
Type locality: 29°45'N 122°45'E East China Sea, 6 June 1959.