Elysia subornata

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Elysia subornata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Order: Opisthobranchia Suborder: Sacoglossa Family: Elysiidae Genus: Elysia Species: E. subornata
Binomial name
Elysia subornata (Verrill, 1901)

Elysia subornata is a small species of sea slug, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Elysiidae.

This sea slug resembles a nudibranch, but it is not closely related to that order of gastropods, instead it is a sacoglossan.

[edit] Distribution

This species is found in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea.

[edit] Possible use as a biological control agent

It has been proposed that Elysia subornata could be used as a control agent against an invasive strain of the alga Caulerpa taxifolia in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. The high toxicity levels of that alga discourage most of the native herbivorous fauna from consuming it. Elysia subornata, however, preferentially feeds on Caulerpa taxifolia, inquestering the secondary metabolite, Caulerpenyne, for its own defense.

[edit] External links

• The Sea Slug Forum - Elysia subornata