Protaeolidiella atra is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Pleurolidiidae.Rosenberg, G. (2015). Protaeolidiella atra. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-12-14 It is the only species in the genus Protaeolidiella.
Taxonomic history This species was synonymised with Pleurolidia juliae by Rudman.Rudman, W.B. (1990.) Protaeolidiella atra Baba, 1955 and Pleurolidia juliae Burn, 1966; one species, two families (Nudibranchia). Journal of Molluscan Studies, 56(4): 505-514. A careful study by Carmona et al. using DNA sequencing showed that these were really two sister species and that they were not members of the family Aeolidiidae.
Distribution This species was described from Kasajima, Sagami Bay, Japan. It is also known from Korea.
Description Protaeolidiella atra is an aeolid nudibranch with a burgundy to black coloured body and numerous cerata with white tips. It is confused with Pleurolidia juliae in many works but can be distinguished by the lack of a dorsal white line on the body and more numerous, ungrouped cerata.Shirai, Y., 2001 (Sep 23) Japanese Protaeolidiella atra (without a stripe). [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
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