Doris verrucosa Linnaeus, 1758 is the type species of
Doris, the type genus of Dorididae. Its currently accepted distribution includes the Mediterranean, Eastern (Europe and Africa) and Western Atlantic (Massachusetts, USA to Santa Catarina, Brazil). Until now, papers on the anatomy of this species dealt with restricted characters such as rhinophores, radula and reproductive organs, never comparing specimens from different localities. In this study we have examined the anatomy of species similar to
D. verrucosa from the Brazilian coast, and compared them with samples of
D. verrucosa from Europe, the type locality. After an extensive complementary anatomical study of the circulatory, excretory, digestive, reproductive and nervous systems, the identity of the Brazilian specimens is clarified, proving that they belong to a different species. To solve the consequent nomenclatural gap, we revalidate
Staurodoris januarii Bergh, 1878, described from Brazil, transferred to the genus
Doris. The nominal species
Doris verrucosa is, therefore, restricted to European waters.
