Elysia rubeni Martín-Hervas, Carmona, Jensen, Licchelli, Vitale & Cervera, 2019
Superdomain | Biota | |
Kingdom | Animalia | |
Phylum | Mollusca | |
Class | Gastropoda | |
Subclass | Heterobranchia | |
Infraclass | Euthyneura | |
Subterclass | Tectipleura | |
Superorder | Sacoglossa | |
Superfamily | Plakobranchoidea | |
Family | Plakobranchidae | |
Genus | Elysia | |
Species | Elysia rubeni Martín-Hervás, Carmona, K. R. Jensen, Licchelli, Vitale & Cervera, 2020 | |
Classification according to Bouchet et al. (2017) Taxonomic source: World Register of Marine Species (AphiaID: 1397304). |
Smooth and elongated body, base color is green pigmented with iridiscent yellow dots and with bright blue spots randomly scattered along it. The green colouration is due to the kleptoplasts in the cells lining the digestive gland, visible through the slightly translucent green skin. Two blue spots are located right below the eyes. Rhinophores are long, rolled, coloured whitish grey with purple tips. Pericardiac area almost fully covered by the large parapodia, whose edges are laterally undulated. The body is tapered at the end forming a short, triangular tail. The foot sole is not apparent.
Biology
Found in shallow depths in the infralittoral, on the algae Flabellia petiolata, that is probably its food source. Very active, it can be seen crawling on red algae like Peyssonnelia or even on the red algae Sphaerococcus coronopifolius.
Etymology
- Rubeni. Named after Rubén Martín Cubero, fiancé of the leading author of the original paper.
Distribution
Described from specimens found in the western and eastern coasts of the Puglia region (Italy), but there are also reports from Croatia, Malta, Crete and even from the Canary Islands.
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Abundance
Western Mediterranean: | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
Eastern Mediterranean: | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
Atlantic Ocean: | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
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Bibliography
Further reading
Cite this article as:
Pontes, Miquel (2023) "Elysia rubeni" in OPK-Opistobranquis. Published: 12/02/2020. Accessed: 30/03/2023. Available at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/jugN1)