Philine auriformis Suter 1909

Philine auriformis Suter, 1909

Figure 6

Philine constricta auriformis Suter 1909: 257 –258, pl. 11, figs. 14–17.

Type material. LECTOTYPE: Akaroa Harbour, New Zealand, 4–6 fathoms (NPCNZ TM 1192), not examined.

Other material examined. Palos Verdes, California. San Pedro, California, 19 Apr 2014, 4 specimens, 10–15 mm preserved length (CPIC 01029). Off Palos Verdes, California, 137 m depth, 10 Aug 2009, 3 specimens, 6–14 mm preserved length (CPIC 00780). Off Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, 305 m depth, 7 Nov 1996, leg. Cadien (LACM 152590). Off Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, 91.5 m depth, 26 Mar 1996, 11 shells 14–23 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 176026); 15 May 1996,>20 shells 20–28 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 176021). South of Point Vicente, Los Angeles, California (33º44.27’N, 118º25.43’W), 62 m depth, 12 May 2004, R/V Ocean Sentinel (T1-61), 1 specimen, 17 mm preserved length, leg. Valdés (LACM 2004-16.4). White Point, San Pedro, California (33º41.92’N, 118º21.36’W), 318 m depth, 12 May 2004, R/V Ocean Sentinel (T4-305), 1 specimen, 19 mm preserved length, leg. Valdés & Groves (LACM 2004- 18.1). White Point, San Pedro, California, 90 m depth, 19 Sep 1995, 6 shells, 8–16 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 151952); 21 Sep 1995, 6 shells, 14–26 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 178887). Off White Point, California, 91.5 m depth, 19 Sep 1995,>20 shells, 10–18 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 176024); 7 Nov 1995,>20 shells, 11–21 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 176023); 10 Oct 1996, 7 shells, 16–22 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 176025); 12 Oct 1996,>20 shells, 11–21 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 176022); 25 Mar 1997, 2 shells 12.5–16 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 176030). San Pedro, California, 26 Jul 1997, 5.4 m depth, 1 shell, 8.2 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 176034). Rockpile 3 miles outside Los Angeles Harbor breakwater, 21.9 m depth, 14 Oct 1999, R/V Vantuna, 1 shell, 7.2 mm long, leg. Moore (LACM 176028). Off Terminal Island, Los Angeles Harbor, California, 5.4–9.1 m depth, 23 Apr 1998,>10 shells, 6–12 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Moore (LACM 176031). Off Terminal Island, Los Angeles Harbor, California, 6 m depth, 24 Apr 1998, 4 shells, 6–8.5 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Moore (LACM 176033). Off Terminal Island, Los Angeles Harbor, California, 14.9 m depth, 10 May 1995, 2 shells, 7–8.5 mm long, leg. Moore (LACM 176032). Los Angeles Harbor, California, 9 May 2009, 2 specimens, 21–24 mm preserved length (CPIC 00778). Los Angeles, California, 11 Aug 2009, 2 specimens, 14–18 mm preserved length (CPIC 00779). Los Angeles, California, 3 Dec 2009, 50 m depth,>50 specimens, ~ 25 mm preserved length (CPIC 00783). Los Angeles, California, 3 Dec 2009, 30 m depth,>50 specimens, ~ 20 mm preserved length (CPIC 00784). Los Angeles, California, 3 Dec 2009, 35 m depth,>50 specimens, ~ 20 mm preserved length (CPIC 00785). Los Angeles, California, 3 Dec 2009, 40 m depth,>50 specimens, ~ 15 mm preserved length (CPIC 00786). Off Belmont Shore, Long Beach, California, 5.4–7.6 m depth, 24 Apr 1997, 5 shells, 3.5-14 mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 176029). Off Long Point, Santa Catalina Island, California, 91.5 m depth, 25 Jun 1998, 2 shells, 6.5–8 m mm long + gizzard plates, leg. Howley (LACM 176027).

Description. Live animal to 40 mm long, exceptionally to 50 mm, uniformly white. Cephalic shield broad, longer than posterior shield (Figs. 6 A–B). Posterior shield notched. Parapodial lobes narrow. Shell to 20 mm long, large, oval, nearly as broad posteriorly (at apex) as anteriorly (Figs. 6 C–D). Lip rising roundly above the apex. Sculpture composed of fine punctate striae.

Radular formula 23 x 1.1.0.1.1 Lateral radular teeth broad, with 30–50 denticles (Fig. 6 G). Gizzard plates spindle-shaped with approximately same size and shape (Figs. 6 E–F). Each plate with two long indentations on the dorsal side.

Range. Native to New Zealand introduced in the northeastern Pacific, from Coos Bay, Oregon to San Diego, California. Depth range 0–300 m.

Remarks. Much controversy and debate about the identity of this exotic species was conclusively settled by Krug et al. (2012) using molecular data. For full anatomical descriptions of this species see Gosliner (1995) and Price et al. (2011). For population genetics see Krug et al. (2012). For ecology and biotic interactions see Cadien & Ranasinghe (2003). This species is easily distinguishable from the other non-native species P. orientalis by having a narrower body with much more reduced parapodial lobes. Also, the gizzard plates of these two species are different, with P. auriformis having plates with two long indentations on the dorsal side and P. orientalis having plates with small to medium, round to oval dorsal pores.