Molecular and morphological data from newly collected specimens and a review of the literature and type material indicate that the widespread tropical sea hare Dolabrifera dolabrifera is a species complex of five genetically distinct taxa. The name Dolabrifera dolabrifera is retained for a widespread species in the Indo-Pacific tropics. Dolabrifera nicaraguana is endemic to the eastern Pacific. Dolabrifera ascifera, D. virens and a new species described herein are restricted to the tropical Atlantic, with partially overlapping ranges in the Caribbean region and St. Helena. The temperate Pacific species Dolabrifera brazieri is also distinct and endemic to temperate southeastern Australia and New Zealand. These species of Dolabrifera constitute highly divergent lineages and most contain unique internal anatomical characteristics, particularly in the male reproductive morphology and shell shape, making them relatively easy to identify upon dissection. However, externally all these species are extremely variable in colour pattern and morphology and are virtually indistinguishable. This is particularly problematic for identification in the Atlantic Ocean where three species co-occur in the Caribbean region.

中文翻译：

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Dolabrifera Gray 的分子和形态学系统学，1847 年（软体动物：腹足类动物：异鳃类动物：Aplysiomorpha）

来自新收集标本的分子和形态学数据以及对文献和类型材料的审查表明，分布广泛的热带海兔 Dolabrifera dolabrifera 是由五个遗传上不同的分类群组成的物种复合体。Dolabrifera dolabrifera 这个名字被保留用于印度-太平洋热带地区的一种广泛分布的物种。Dolabrifera nicaraguana 是东太平洋的特有种。Dolabrifera ascifera、D. virens 和这里描述的一个新物种仅限于热带大西洋，在加勒比地区和圣赫勒拿有部分重叠的范围。温带太平洋物种 Dolabrifera brazieri 也是澳大利亚和新西兰东南部温带地区特有的特有物种。这些 Dolabrifera 物种构成高度不同的谱系，大多数包含独特的内部解剖特征，特别是在雄性生殖形态和贝壳形状方面，使它们在解剖时相对容易识别。然而，从外部看，所有这些物种在颜色图案和形态上都非常多变，几乎无法区分。这对于在加勒比地区同时出现三种物种的大西洋进行鉴定尤其成问题。