Elysia rufescens
| Elysia rufescens | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Original drawing used by Pease when he described the species in 1871. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura |
| Superfamily: | Plakobranchoidea |
| Family: | Plakobranchidae |
| Genus: | Elysia |
| Species: | E. rufescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Elysia rufescens (Pease, 1871) [1] | |
Elysia rufescens is a species of sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Plakobranchidae. This sea slug resembles a nudibranch but is not classified in that order of gastropods, instead belonging to a closely related clade, Sacoglossa, the "sap-sucking" sea slugs. This species was first described by Pease from Tahiti in 1871.
Description
Elysia rufescens is olive green with large white spots, often in a reticulated pattern, and grows to about 6 centimetres (2.4 in). The parapodia are somewhat convoluted and have dark blue edges and a submarginal orange line. The rhinophores are rolled and have blunt, greyish ends.[2] [3]
Distribution
Elysia rufescens is found in the Pacific Ocean. Its range includes the coastlines of South Africa, Réunion, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Japan, Guam, Samoa, Tahiti, Hawaii and Australia.[3]
Biology
Elysia rufescens feeds on green filamentous algae such as Bryopsis pennata, which it rasps with each of a series of rachidian teeth.[3]
References
- ↑ Tran, Bastien (2010). "Elysia rufescens (Pease, 1871)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
- ↑ Elysia rufescens (Pease, 1871) The Sea Slug Forum. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Elysia rufescens The Slug Site. Retrieved 2012-01-27.