Trapania velox

Trapania velox
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia

clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Euctenidiacea
clade Doridacea

Superfamily: Onchidoridoidea
Family: Goniodorididae
Genus: Trapania
Species: T. velox
Binomial name
Trapania velox
(Cockerell, 1901)[1]
Synonyms

Thecacera velox Cockerell, 1901 original combination

Trapania velox is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.

Distribution

This species was described from La Jolla, California.[1] It has since been reported from California south to Bahia Tortugas, Baja California, Mexico.[2]

Description

This goniodorid nudibranch is translucent white in colour, with a pattern dark brown lines forming a loose network on the body. The tips of the rhinophores, oral tentacles, gills, tail and lateral papillae are tipped with yellow.[3]

Ecology

Trapania velox probably feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on sponges and other living substrata.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Cockerell, T. D. A. 1901. Three new nudibranchs from California. Journal of Malacology 8(3):85-87.
  2. Behrens, D. W. and Hermosillo, A. (2005) Eastern Pacific Nudibranchs. A Guide to the Opisthobranchs from Alaska to Central America. Monterey, California, Sea Challengers. 1-137.
  3. Rudman, W.B., 2006 (January 24) Trapania velox (Cockerell, 1901). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.