{"id":2497,"date":"2012-11-20T20:07:59","date_gmt":"2012-11-20T19:07:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opistobranquis.info\/facelina-dubiafacelina-dubiafacelina-dubia"},"modified":"2025-06-12T21:44:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T19:44:02","slug":"facelina-dubia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/opistobranquis.info\/en\/guia\/nudibranchia\/aeolidioidea\/facelinidae\/facelina-dubia\/","title":{"rendered":"Facelina dubia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Facelina dubia<\/em> (Pruvot-Fol, 1948)<\/h3>\n

\"Facelina<\/div>
Facelina dubia @ Ponton De La Bordelaise, Bassin de Thau, France 11.03.2021<\/em> by Pascal Girard<\/center><\/span>

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WoRMS Taxonomic Information<\/h3>
Current accepted name: Facelina dubia<\/em> Pruvot-Fol, 1948<\/strong><\/div>

Current classification<\/h4>
Superdomain<\/th>Biota<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Kingdom<\/th>Animalia<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Phylum<\/th>Mollusca<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Class<\/th>Gastropoda<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Subclass<\/th>Heterobranchia<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Infraclass<\/th>Euthyneura<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Subterclass<\/th>Ringipleura<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Superorder<\/th>Nudipleura<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Order<\/th>Nudibranchia<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Suborder<\/th>Aeolidina<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Superfamily<\/th>Aeolidioidea<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Family<\/th>Facelinidae<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Genus<\/th>Facelina<\/em><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Species<\/th>Facelina dubia<\/em> Pruvot-Fol, 1948<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/table>

Classification provided by the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). [139910<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>Description<\/strong>
\nThis species can reach a remarkable size, it has been cited up to 38 mm in length. The body is translucent and suggests much of the internal organs that are coloured creamy white. On the head there is an orange stain, corresponding to the buccal bulb, that can be seen by transparency as well as the esophagus that can be observed as a dark red lace curved to the left between the base of the rhinophores and slightly behind them. There are small white spots scattered throughout the animal’s back and head. Oral tentacles are thin and elongated, they are also translucent with white spots, the same with the rhinophores, that are smooth and lack any lamellae. The eyes can be seen on the inner posterior basal region of the rhinophores. The cerata are very long and thin and are arranged in seven groups on each side of the body. The first 4 groups are composed of 2 or more rows of cerata and the first group is located far ahead, levelled up with the rhinophores. The cerata length of each row increases from the outermost one (which is shorter) to the innermost (which is longer). The cerata are also semitransparent, they have superficial white stains and the digestive diverticulum can be clearly seen inside, as a fine greenish lace. The apex of the cerata are white. The genital opening, very apparent and funnel-shaped, is located below the last two rows of the first group of cerata on the right, while the anus is located slightly behind, below the second group of cerata on the right. The propodial tentacles in front of the foot are triangular.<\/p>\n

Biology<\/strong>
\nF. dubia<\/em> feeds on athecate hydroids of the genus Podocoryne<\/em> and Tubularia<\/em> over which it also spawns. This is a very active species that, when disturbed extends all cerata trying to resemble an actiniarian with a clearly defensive purpose. In European Atlantic coasts it is a common finding on submerged ropes where hydrozoans grow, also in soft substrates with traces of molluscs shells that are colonized by hydroids. Mediterranean specimens rarely exceed 20 mm in length. The spawn is a coiled cord with white eggs of about 100 microns.<\/p>\n

Etymology<\/strong><\/p>\n