MSBIAS source details
Korshunova, T.; Fletcher, K.; Martynov, A. (2025). The endless forms are the most differentiated — how taxonomic pseudo-optimization masked natural diversity and evolution: the nudibranch case. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 204(4): zlaf057: 1-93.
514054
10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf057 [view]
Korshunova, T.; Fletcher, K.; Martynov, A.
2025
The endless forms are the most differentiated — how taxonomic pseudo-optimization masked natural diversity and evolution: the nudibranch case
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
204(4): zlaf057: 1-93
Publication
Stated date: 18 August 2025
Available for editors 
In this study, a global-encompassing, fine-scale differentiated taxonomy is consistently presented from the high level of a major nudibranch suborder, Aeolidacea, and then consequentially to lower levels of superfamilies, families, genera, and species to conjoin the underlying evolutionary pathways of aeolidacean nudibranchs and systematic representation to a maximal degree. The suborder Aeolidacea is reinstated and the superfamily system of Aeolidacea is reformed; 10 aeolidacean superfamilies are recognized encompassing 29 families in an all-family Synopsis, and the superfamily Embletonioidea is included in addition. Two new families, Chudidae fam. nov. and Hantazuidae fam. nov., are described, which show unique morphological and molecular patterns. Seven new species are described within various superfamilies, and five species are reinstated. The genus-level taxonomy of the family Coryphellidae is revisited, 11 genera are recognized, including nine reinstated and two new genera. We show that recent synonymization of all valid Coryphellidae genera into just a single genus was based on an erroneous phylogenetic analysis, the careless treatment of morphological characters, and established preconceptions. Uniting fine-scale morphological and molecular data, order level nudibranch taxonomy is refined, order Nudibranchia is restricted, and order Doridida is reinstated. Within the order Nudibranchia, five suborders are recognized: Arminacea, restricted, reinstated; Tritoniacea, reinstated; Dendronotacea, restricted, reinstated; Janolacea, reinstated; and Aeolidacea, revised, reinstated.
Date
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Aeolidina (status source)
Amphorina Quatrefages, 1844 (status source)
Amphorina farrani (Alder & Hancock, 1844) (additional source)
Amphorina linensis (García-Gómez, Cervera & F. J. Garcia, 1990) (additional source)
Amphorina pallida (Alder & Hancock, 1842) (additional source)
Arminina (status source)
Borealea Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 (status source)
Borealea nobilis (A. E. Verrill, 1880) (status source)
Calmidae Iredale & O'Donoghue, 1923 (additional source)
Capellinia Trinchese, 1873 (status source)
Capellinia vittata (Alder & Hancock, 1842) (new combination reference)
Catriona aurantia (Alder & Hancock, 1842) (status source)
Coryphella borealis Odhner, 1922 accepted as Gulenia borealis (Odhner, 1922) (status source)
Coryphella browni Picton, 1980 accepted as Fjordia browni (Picton, 1980) (status source)
Coryphella chriskaugei Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 accepted as Fjordia chriskaugei Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 (status source)
Coryphella lineata (Lovén, 1846) accepted as Fjordia lineata (Lovén, 1846) (status source)
Coryphella nobilis A. E. Verrill, 1880 accepted as Borealea nobilis (A. E. Verrill, 1880) (status source)
Cuthona Alder & Hancock, 1855 (additional source)
Cuthonellidae M. C. Miller, 1977 (additional source)
Cuthonidae Odhner, 1934 (additional source)
Dendronotina (status source)
Doridida (status source)
Embletonioidea Pruvot-Fol, 1954 (basis of record)
Eubranchidae Odhner, 1934 (additional source)
Eubranchus Forbes, 1838 (additional source)
Fionoidea J. E. Gray, 1857 (basis of record)
Fjordia Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 (status source)
Fjordia browni (Picton, 1980) (status source)
Fjordia chriskaugei Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 (status source)
Fjordia lineata (Lovén, 1846) (status source)
Goniaeolididae Odhner, 1907 (status source)
Gulenia borealis (Odhner, 1922) (status source)
Janolina (status source)
Microchlamylla Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 (status source)
Microchlamylla gracilis (Alder & Hancock, 1844) (status source)
Nudibranchus Martynov, 1998 (status source)
Nudibranchus exiguus (Alder & Hancock, 1848) (basis of record)
Trinchesia Ihering, 1879 (status source)
Trinchesia caerulea (Montagu, 1804) (status source)
Tritonina (status source)
Amphorina Quatrefages, 1844 (status source)
Amphorina farrani (Alder & Hancock, 1844) (additional source)
Amphorina linensis (García-Gómez, Cervera & F. J. Garcia, 1990) (additional source)
Amphorina pallida (Alder & Hancock, 1842) (additional source)
Arminina (status source)
Borealea Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 (status source)
Borealea nobilis (A. E. Verrill, 1880) (status source)
Calmidae Iredale & O'Donoghue, 1923 (additional source)
Capellinia Trinchese, 1873 (status source)
Capellinia vittata (Alder & Hancock, 1842) (new combination reference)
Catriona aurantia (Alder & Hancock, 1842) (status source)
Coryphella borealis Odhner, 1922 accepted as Gulenia borealis (Odhner, 1922) (status source)
Coryphella browni Picton, 1980 accepted as Fjordia browni (Picton, 1980) (status source)
Coryphella chriskaugei Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 accepted as Fjordia chriskaugei Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 (status source)
Coryphella lineata (Lovén, 1846) accepted as Fjordia lineata (Lovén, 1846) (status source)
Coryphella nobilis A. E. Verrill, 1880 accepted as Borealea nobilis (A. E. Verrill, 1880) (status source)
Cuthona Alder & Hancock, 1855 (additional source)
Cuthonellidae M. C. Miller, 1977 (additional source)
Cuthonidae Odhner, 1934 (additional source)
Dendronotina (status source)
Doridida (status source)
Embletonioidea Pruvot-Fol, 1954 (basis of record)
Eubranchidae Odhner, 1934 (additional source)
Eubranchus Forbes, 1838 (additional source)
Fionoidea J. E. Gray, 1857 (basis of record)
Fjordia Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 (status source)
Fjordia browni (Picton, 1980) (status source)
Fjordia chriskaugei Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 (status source)
Fjordia lineata (Lovén, 1846) (status source)
Goniaeolididae Odhner, 1907 (status source)
Gulenia borealis (Odhner, 1922) (status source)
Janolina (status source)
Microchlamylla Korshunova, Martynov, Bakken, Evertsen, Fletcher, Mudianta, H. Saito, Lundin, Schrödl & Picton, 2017 (status source)
Microchlamylla gracilis (Alder & Hancock, 1844) (status source)
Nudibranchus Martynov, 1998 (status source)
Nudibranchus exiguus (Alder & Hancock, 1848) (basis of record)
Trinchesia Ihering, 1879 (status source)
Trinchesia caerulea (Montagu, 1804) (status source)
Tritonina (status source)