Elysia rufescens

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.

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
clade Panpulmonata
clade Sacoglossa
clade Plakobranchacea
Superfamily:
Plakobranchoidea
Family:
Plakobranchidae
Genus:
Elysia
Species:
E. rufescens
Binomial name
Elysia rufescens
(Pease, 1871) [1]

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]

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References
  1. Tran, Bastien (2010). "Elysia rufescens (Pease, 1871)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  2. Elysia rufescens (Pease, 1871) The Sea Slug Forum. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  3. Elysia rufescens The Slug Site. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
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