Lobiger serradifalci

Lobiger serradifalci (Calcara, 1840)

Lobiger serradifalci by Enric Madrenas

Taxonomy

	Superdomain	Biota
	Kingdom	Animalia
	Phylum	Mollusca
	Class	Gastropoda
	Subclass	Heterobranchia
	Infraclass	Euthyneura
	Subterclass	Tectipleura
	Superorder	Sacoglossa
	Superfamily	Oxynooidea
	Family	Oxynoidae
	Genus	Lobiger
	Species	Lobiger serradifalci (Calcara, 1840)

	Classification according to Bouchet et al. (2017) Taxonomic source: World Register of Marine Species (AphiaID: 140671).

Synonyms

Bullea serradifalci Calcara, 1840 (original)
Lobiger philippii Krohn, 1847

Description
The body is elongated, reaching a maximum length of 40 mm. Its coloration is predominantly yellow with a greenish tint, becoming darker on the head, tail, and outer surfaces of the parapodia, and with a lighter hue on their inner surfaces. Each side of the body features parapodial extensions forming two prominent lobes with undulating margins. Blunt, conical tubercles are scattered across the outer surfaces of the parapodia, body, and tail. Anteriorly, the foot is rounded at the corners and lacks a transverse groove. The tail tapers to a point and is about half the body’s total length. A distinct longitudinal black line runs along each side of the head and neck, extending from the base of the rhinophores to the edge of the mantle cavity. The head bears two oral lobes and a pair of longitudinally folded rhinophores, which open ventrally. The parapodial edges are bordered by a white line, with a red line inwards. Many tubercles on the anterior side have white marks and those on the posterior side have red marks. The translucent oval shell is thin, highly reduced, and its small spire prevents the animal from fully retracting into it. The male gonopore is located just behind the right front rhinophore, while the female pore lies further to the tail. The anus is located on the posterior floor of the mantle cavity. A large, folded gill extends across the roof of the mantle cavity from right to left.

Biology
It inhabits infralittoral zones, where it primarily feeds on Caulerpa prolifera, blending well with its surroundings. This species deposits its egg masses on the leaves of the algae it inhabits, forming a flat spiral of about two and a half sworls with very small, translucent white eggs. Free-swimming veligers emerge after approximately 16 days at a temperature of 16°C. As a defensive mechanism, the parapodial lobes and tail tip can be autotomized when the animal is disturbed.
L.serradifalci has also been observed feeding on Caulerpa taxifolia, a species introduced accidentally into the Mediterranean by the Monaco Aquarium. However, rather than controlling the spread of this invasive alga, it may exacerbate its propagation (Zuljevic et al., 2001) as, in the Mediterranean, C. taxifolia reproduces vegetatively, with small fragments breaking off and establishing new growth. By piercing the cell walls of its host, Lobiger serradifalci weakens the algae, increasing the likelihood of fragmentation and dispersal.

Etymology

Lobiger. From Latin “lobus”, lobule + “gero”/ “gerere”, to carry.
Serradifalci. In honor to the Sicilian archaeologist Antonino Lo Faso-Pietrasanta, Duke of Serradifalco, and a member of the Royal Institute of France.

Distribution
This species is found throughout the Mediterranean and adjacent Atlantic regions, extending as far south as São Tomé and Príncipe and Cape Verde.

Known georeferenced records of the species: Lobiger serradifalci
Sources:
: OBIS : GROC 2010-2011 : Enric Madrenas : João Pedro Silva : Bernard Picton : GBIF.ORG	: OPK : VIMAR : Manuel Ballesteros. : M@re Nostrum : Altres fonts : Marine Regions

Abundance

Western Mediterranean:	★☆☆☆☆
Eastern Mediterranean:	★☆☆☆☆
Atlantic Ocean:	★☆☆☆☆

Month

This chart displays the monthly observation probability for Lobiger serradifalci based on our own records.

More pictures

Lobiger serradifalci by Baki Yokes @ 20020502 Uc Adalar, Turquia 5m, on Caulerpa racemosa var.cylindracea

Lobiger serradifalci by Baki Yokes @ 20051204 Uc Adalar, Turquia 28m, on Caulerpa prolifera

Lobiger serradifalci

Lobiger serradifalci by José Carlos García Gómez

Lobiger sp. @ Bali by Arya Widhi

Lobiger serradifalci @ Palamós by Enric Madrenas

Lobiger serradifalci @ Eivissa by Joan Pereyra

Lobiger serradifalci on Caulerpa prolifera @ Eivissa by Joan Pereyra

Lobiger serradifalci @ Eivissa by Joan Pereyra

Lobiger serradifalci with egg spawn on Caulerpa prolifera @ Eivissa by Joan Pereyra

Lobiger serradifalci on Caulerpa prolifera @ Eivissa by Joan Pereyra

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Further reading

Cite this article as:

Pontes, Miquel (2012-2025) "Lobiger serradifalci" in OPK-Opistobranquis. Published: 13/08/2014. Accessed: 03/02/2025. Available at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/?p=12176)

Lobiger serradifalci