Coryphella orjani (Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 )

Coryphella orjani (Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017) View in CoL

Coryphella cf. orjani

Figure 4K View Figure 4

Material examined: One specimen, THA, 08 February 2022, 15 mm, FB, NTNU-VM-85713/NUIT-1124 ( Figure 4K View Figure 4 ) .

Localities: THA

Distribution and remarks: The species was described in 2017 and was placed in a new genus Gulenia which then comprised three different species; Gulenia borealis , G. monicae and G. orjani . More recent work has placed the species in the genus Coryphella under the name Coryphella orjani ( Ekimova et al. 2022) . While C. orjani and C. monicae cannot reliably be identified to species level without DNA barcoding, subtle differences in external morphology may aid in identification ( Korshunova et al. 2017a). The animal found in the present study had a broad body, long cerata and a fairly long tail, suggesting Coryphella orjani . The specimen is, however, recorded here only as Coryphella cf. orjani indicating likely identity. Coryphella orjani is so far known only from a handful different localities in southern Norway north to Trondheimsfjorden ( Picton & Morrow 2023; Artskart 2024). The present record is the first record from the Tromsø region and represents a significant range extension in distribution.

Coryphella verrucosa (M. Sars, 1829) Figure 4L View Figure 4 /5A

Material examined: Three specimens, ESU, 07 November 2021, 38, 30, 25 mm, FB, NTNU-VM-84467/NUIT-1007, NTNU-VM-84418/ NUIT-1012, NTNU-VM-84578/NUIT-1013 ; One specimen, KVA, 14 November 2021, 35 mm, FB, NTNU-VM-85709/NUIT-1050 ; One specimen, TPR, 19 December 2021, 40 mm, FB, NTNU-VM-85714/ NUIT-1101 ; One specimen, HIL, 09 January 2022, 20 mm, FB, NUIT-1110 ; Two specimens, HIL, 03 December 2022, 32, 30 mm, FB, NTNU-VM-85676/NUIT-1261 ( Figure 5A View Figure 5 ), NTNU-VM-85655/ NUIT-1263 ( Figure 4L View Figure 4 ) ; Two specimens, HIL, 14 November 2023, 22, 22 mm, FB, NUIT-1337, NUIT-1338 .

Localities: EKJ, ESU, HIH, HIL, HMY, KVA, SGU, SKI, THA, TLA, TPO, TPR, TTE, TVK, UTE

Distribution and remarks: Coryphella verrucosa has previously been reported from almost the entire Norwegian coast ( Evertsen & Bakken 2005; Moen & Svensen 2020). In Tromsø, C. verrucosa was found to be a commonly occurring species. Both the long-cerata “rufibranchialis” ( Figure 4L View Figure 4 ) and short-cerata “verrucose” ( Figure 5A View Figure 5 ) morphological morphs were found. The “rufibranchialis” morph was, however, by far the most common. Occasionally, individuals with bright lemon-yellow cerata were observed alongside other individuals with more typical reddish cerata. The species was found at all months of the year in a wide variety of habitats. Spawning was mainly observed in April – July with juveniles typically appearing in the autumn. Adult animals were very common during winter. The present study verifies the presence of C. verrucosa in the Tromsø region.