Aplysia norfolkensis, G. B. SOWERBY II, 1869

APLYSIA NORFOLKENSIS G. B. SOWERBY II, 1869 View in CoL

Aplysia norfolkensis G. B. Sowerby II, 1869 View in CoL : (216), pl. 10, fig. 42A–B. Type locality: Norfolk Island, Australia. Type: Probably lost, not found at NHMUK (A. Salvador, pers. comm.).

Remarks

Sowerby II (1869) introduced the name Aplysia norfolkensis based on a shell collected in Norfolk Island, Australia. The short description stated: ‘Shell horny, brown, arched, ventricose, obliquely subovate, thin, smooth; apex elevated, round, auriculated at the back; upper margin sloped, excavated; outer lip rather convex; lower margin rounded, dorsal margin arched; rounded, thinly reflected near the apex, obliquely inclined towards the lower end.’ The illustrations of the shell ( Sowerby II, 1869: pl. 10, fig. 42A–B) represent an elongate brown specimen with a curved apex, very similar to other shells of A. parvula s.l. here examined.

As in the previous case, Eales (1960) considered A. norfolkensis a synonym of A. parvula based on the shell morphology. However, in this study we have revealed the existence of several species with a similar shell morphology and it is virtually impossible to determine the identity of this species. Therefore, A. norfolkensis is here regarded as a taxon inquirendum.