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 Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
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]

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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