Biology:Elysia rufescens

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Short description: Species of gastropod

Elysia rufescens
Elysia rufescens.jpg
Original drawing used by Pease when he described the species in 1871.
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
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

  1. Tran, Bastien (2010). "Elysia rufescens (Pease, 1871)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=494470. 
  2. Elysia rufescens (Pease, 1871) The Sea Slug Forum. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Elysia rufescens The Slug Site. Retrieved 2012-01-27.

Wikidata ☰ Q5368554 entry