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Family: Pseudocerotidae
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: Coral rubble, from the reef crest, between 1.5-2 meters depth. Distribution: Reported in the Bahamas, Bermuda, southern Florida, and in Bocas del Toro, Panama. The distribution could be extended to other locations in the Caribbean. Natural History Notes: This species was first described by Verrill (1900), based only on external features and belonged to the genus Pseudoceros. However, further analyses on internal features, especially on the reproductive anatomy, allowed Faubel (1984) to distinguish two genus, Pseudoceros and Pseudobiceros, an this based on the number of male copulatory systems. Since the species possessed two male gonopores, it was established that this species would belong to the Pseudobiceros genus and would be a new combination named Pseudobiceros pardalis. Characteristics: Purple-brown background turning into black toward the margin. The dorsal surface shows orange and smaller yellow dots outlined by a black shadow. Small white spots along the margin around the whole body. The ventral surface is light purple-violet becoming more transparent towards the margin. Based on the color pattern established for all Pseudobiceros, this species belongs to the group 4. The sucker is visible and centrally located. The species possesses 2 male gonopores evident externally and a female gonopore located on the midventral line. |