The five species of the nudibranch family Aeolidiidae known to occur in New
Zealand waters are reviewed. Detailed descriptions are provided for four o
f the species, Anteaeolidiella indica (Bergh, 1888) originally Aeolidiella
indica; Spurilla faustina (Bergh. 1900) originally Aeolidiella faustina; Ae
olidiella drusilla Bergh, 1900 and Baeolidia australis (Rudman, 1982) origi
nally Spurilla australis. These are appraised in respect of what was known
previously. Nothing can be added to the description of the fifth species. B
urnaia helicochordu (Miller, 1987) originally Aeolidia helicochorda, as no
more specimens have been found. A revision of all of the genera is attempte
d. As a consequence nine genera are maintained and two new ones created. An
teaeolidiella gen. nov. is created to accommodate Aeolidiella indica which
does not sit comfortably in Aeolidiella or any of the other aeolidiid gener
a because of the arrangement of the cerata (multi-rowed clusters) and shape
of the oral glands (spindle-shaped reservoir and giant gland cells). Burna
ia gen. nov. is created to accommodate Aeolidia helicochorda which stands a
part in possessing horseshoe-shaped ceratal rows (each forming a distinct c
luster), finely lamellated rhinophores and prominent structured jaw denticl
es. Several of the known species including some still unnamed need to be de
scribed fully before the validity of the genera can be assessed properly on
the characters used so far.