Northernmost record of Godiva quadricolor (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) in the SCI "Fondali Noli – Bergeggi" (Ligurian Sea). (12th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Betti, Federico; Cattaneo-Vietti, Riccardo; Bava, Simone
• Is Part Of: Marine biodiversity records. Volume 8(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-02-12
• Subjects: Godiva quadricolor, -- alien species, -- Mediterranean Sea, -- Ligurian Sea, -- first record, -- northernmost record; Marine biodiversity -- Periodicals; Marine biology -- Periodicals; 578.77
• DOI: 10.1017/S1755267215000032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-2672

Abstract

Abstract : The northernmost record of the alien nudibranch Godiva quadricolor is reported here, about 400 km farther north than the previously published one and the farthest to be recorded from the equator. It is also the second published record of this species along the Italian coasts and the first record from the Ligurian Sea. A single specimen was reported during a scuba dive, crawling on small stones inside the Site of Community Importance 'Fondali Noli – Bergeggi SCI', at a depth of 3.5 m. The species, described in 1927 in South Africa, is considered to be rapidly expanding its original areal distribution thanks to maritime traffic. A review of the known actual distribution is also reported here.