Elysia subornata
Elysia subornata | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Family: | Plakobranchidae |
Genus: | Elysia |
Species: | E. subornata
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Binomial name | |
Elysia subornata (Verrill, 1901)
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Elysia subornata is a
This sea slug resembles a nudibranch, but it is not closely related to that order of gastropods. Instead, it is a sacoglossan.
Description
Elysia subornata grows to a length of about 5 centimetres (2.0 in). It is variable in colour, being found in shades of green, olive and beige, sometimes with a reddish tinge. It has broad parapodia (fleshy protrusions at the side) with thick white margins sometimes edged in brown or black. The parapodia are covered in tiny papillae (fleshy protuberances) and the rhinophores (sensory organs on the head) are also papillose.[1]
Distribution
This species is found in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea.
Human uses
It has been proposed that Elysia subornata could be used as a biological control agent against an invasive strain of the
References
- ^ Elysia subornata The Sea Slug Forum. Retrieved 2012-01-22.