Thuridilla gracilis

Thuridilla gracilis is a species of sea slug, a sacoglossan, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Plakobranchidae. It is an Indo-Pacific species that lives in or near coral reefs and eats algae.

Thuridilla gracilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Sacoglossa
clade Plakobranchacea
Family:
Plakobranchidae
Genus:
Thuridilla
Species:
T. gracilis
Binomial name
Thuridilla gracilis
(Risbec, 1928)

Distribution and habitat

This species occurs in the Tropical Indo/West-Pacific. It lives on the external slope of coral reefs, on top of the reef and in the lagoon, usually in shallow water.

Description

This species can be up to 25 mm in size. The body is partially covered by the fold of the lateral parapodia. The mantle is black and crossed by multiple fine white longitudinal lines (eight to ten) punctuated sometimes with blue spots. The border of the lapel of the parapodia and rhinophores is often orange. The smooth rhinophores can be whitish without any lines.

Biology

This species is benthic and diurnal. Because of its aposematic coloration, it crawls around to feed in the daylight. It has a diet based on algae.

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References
    • P.L. Beesley, G.J.B. Ross & A. Wells,"Mollusca-The southern synthesis", vol.5,CSIRO,1998,ISBN 0-643-05756-0
    • David Behrens, "Nudibranch behaviour", Newworld Publication INC., 2005, ISBN 978-1878348418
    • Gary Cobb & Richard Willan, "Undersea jewels- a colour guide to nudibranchs", Australian Biological Resources Study, 2006, ISBN 0642568472
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