Some considerations on Eubranchus farrani and Eubranchus linensis off the coast of Galicia (NW Spain) Almón, B., Perez Dieste, J. & Trigo, J.E. Grupo de Estudo do Medio Mariño (GEMM) Eubranchus linensis is a species described in 1990 by García- Gómez and Cervera, and mor- phologically different from any of the varieties described in Eubran- chus farrani, with which it shares only certain similarities. The range originally described for this species is located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. The samplings carried out in the Ría de Arousa during the last years have resulted in the finding of numerous specimens of Eu- branchus farrani and what consid- ered a color variation that we be- lieve may correspond to Eubran- chus linensis. The observed differences in these specimens were as follows: 1 .- Pattern color that matches perfectly with the amount indi- cated in the original description of E. linensis: hyaline white body with blood-red patches of different sizes scattered over the whole dorsum, from the rinophoral re- gion to the tail. A minutely opaque white pigmentation is present along the edge of the foot and at the end of the tail. The tips of the oral tentacles and rinophores are opaque white, although in the lat- ter minute iridescent white pig- ment spots cover the rest of the surface. The tips of the oral tenta- cles, rhinophores and cerata are opaque white. 2 .- Oral tentacles are short and cylindrical, more or less one-half the length of the rhinophores. The rinophores are long, smooth and a little enlarged at their bases and tips. 3 .- The branches of the digestive gland are a greenish-brown or light yellowish brown colour. Eubranchus linensis Baixos de Corrubedo (NW España) Food preferences are unknown in E. linensis. All specimens were found on the bryozoa Pentapora foliacea which forms complex three- dimensional structures that can be used as refuge for some organisms and even as substratum for the growth of others. It is known that feeding of Eubran- chus farrani is based on different species of hydrozoans, which might suggest that E. linensis could follow a similar pattern. The finding of all specimens of E. linensis always on the same substrate, Pentapora foli- acea, could indicate that their diet may differ radically from E. farrani, specializing in this kind of bryozoan or by other side, may serve as a substrate for species of hydrozoans which E. linensis feed on . All data lead us to suppose, waiting for further studies, that Eubranchus linensis is a species that could be present in galician waters. Eubranchus farrani Isla de Rúa (NW España) • !" #$%& ’ ( $%$ )*+," (&, -$ *./ *+,$ *. ’ 0 ..*$ 1&*$ 2324225 • . 0.6*$ 07 8%. ..$&$ 0 9: 0; <!!3" & *%& ,-.$& ’ &, %$& ,+, 0..*$ $&%" ’ 1% &*;. .*; $.$ , %=.;$" .& $&&*& 7$%>. 7)? <! << ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to express our gratitude to Patricia Ramos for her assistance in the im- plementation of this work and to the members of the “Grupo de Estudo do Medio Mariño” (GEMM) from Ribeira, for their cooperation in the numerous dives to obtain the necessary data to carry out this work. Eubranchus linensis Baixos de Corrubedo (NW España)