Okenia pellucida
Okenia pellucida is a species of sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.
Okenia pellucida | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Order: | Nudibranchia |
Suborder: | Doridina |
Superfamily: | Onchidoridoidea |
Family: | Goniodorididae |
Genus: | Okenia |
Species: | O. pellucida |
Binomial name | |
Okenia pellucida Burn, 1967[1] | |
Distribution
This species was described from south-eastern Australia. It is known from the United Arab Emirates, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Palmyra Atoll and Japan.[2]
Description
This Okenia has a narrow body and eleven or twelve pairs of short lateral papillae. There are a few papillae on the back, between the rhinophores and the gills. The body is translucent and covered with a reticulate pattern of brown lines. It is similar in shape and arrangement of the papillae to Okenia angelensis, Okenia zoobotryon and Okenia distincta.
Ecology
The diet of this species is a bryozoan, Amathia verticillata which is a common fouling organism which is transported on ships' hulls.[2]
References
- Burn, R. (1967). Descriptions of two new species of Okenia (Nudibranchia, Doridacea) from south-eastern Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 1965-66: 52-57.
- Rudman, W.B., 2004 (December 21) Okenia pellucida Burn, 1967. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.