Chelidonura varians

Chelidonura varians is a species of small sea slug, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusc in the order Cephalaspidea, the headshield slugs.[1]

Chelidonura varians
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Euopisthobranchia
clade Cephalaspidea
Superfamily:
Philinoidea
Family:
Aglajidae
Genus:
Chelidonura
Species:
C. varians
Binomial name
Chelidonura varians
Eliot, 1903

Description & habitat

This species has a maximum size of 70 mm.[2] The background color is deep black. The margin of the parapods and body are marked with a thin electric blue line. The two rather long "tails" at the end of the animal are characteristic of the genus Chelidonura, the left one is always longer. They have also well-developed sensory cilia on the anterior edge of the head which are used to find the preys.[2][3]

This species lives on reef areas in shallow water lagoons with sandy or muddy bottom until 30 m depth.[4]

Distribution

This cephalaspidean is widespread in the tropical waters of the Indo-west Pacific region.[3]

Diet

Chelidonura varians feeds on flatworms and it is used in aquariums to eradicate small flat worm invasions.[5]

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References
  1. Rosenberg, G. (2012). Chelidonura varians. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=599344 on 2012-06-04
  2. http://seaslugs.free.fr/nudibranche/f_intro.htm
  3. http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/chelvar
  4. http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=472
  5. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+524+2198&pcatid=2198


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