Berthella ornata

Berthella ornata is a species of sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pleurobranchidae. It is sometimes called the Ornate side-gilled sea slug.

Berthella ornata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Pleurobranchomorpha
Superfamily:
Pleurobranchoidea
Family:
Pleurobranchidae
Genus:
Berthella
Species:
B. ornata
Binomial name
Berthella ornata
(Cheeseman, 1878)
Synonyms

Pleurobranchus ornatus Cheeseman, 1878; Suter 1913 Bouvieria ornata Morton & Miller, 1968; Powell, 1979

Ornate side-gilled sea slug swimming

Description

This is a distinctive pleurobranch up to 70mm in length, the dorsal surface bearing reddish or brownish spots overlaying an opaque background that can vary from white to dark red or brown. A shell up to 20mm is hidden under the smooth mantle, which is white at the margin, the foot and gill are also white. The rhinophores are brown with white tips. B. ornata is slow moving and feeds on sponges at night, often emitting a milky fluid if disturbed. It is usually found hiding under boulders and stones during the day, with the head and rhinophores retracted under the mantle.[1]

Distribution

Endemic to New Zealand, where it is becoming less common. It is found at low tide through the sub-littoral fringe down to 6 metres deep.

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References
  1. Cook, Steve De C., “New Zealand Coastal Marine Invertebrates Vol 1”, Canterbury University Press, NZ 2010, IBSN 978-1877257-60-5
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