{"id":46285,"date":"2025-03-21T09:50:35","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T08:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opistobranquis.info\/?page_id=46285"},"modified":"2025-03-21T18:58:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T17:58:45","slug":"elysia-evelinae","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/opistobranquis.info\/en\/guia\/sacoglossa\/plakobranchoidea\/elysia-evelinae\/","title":{"rendered":"Elysia evelinae"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Elysia evelinae<\/em> Er. Marcus, 1957<\/h3>\n

\"Elysia<\/div>
Elysia evelinae @ Marseille, France<\/em> by Pascal Girard<\/center><\/span>

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WoRMS Taxonomic Information<\/h3>
Current accepted name: Elysia evelinae<\/em> Er. Marcus, 1957<\/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>Tectipleura<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Superorder<\/th>Sacoglossa<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Superfamily<\/th>Plakobranchoidea<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Family<\/th>Plakobranchidae<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Genus<\/th>Elysia<\/em><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Species<\/th>Elysia evelinae<\/em> Er. Marcus, 1957<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/table>

Classification provided by the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). [494441<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>Taxonomic Note: <\/strong>F<\/em>irst described by Er. Marcus in 1957, this species is part of a phylogenetic clade that includes Elysia viridis<\/em>, although the two species differ significantly in morphology and ecology.<\/p>\n

Description
\n<\/strong>Body is short (up to 8mm long) and wide, with a rounded head and a narrow foot. Coloration varies from pale cream to brownish gray, with numerous red and opaque white spots covering the head and sometimes extending across the body. Parapodia are short, thick, and slightly undulating, with the margins densely pigmented. The pericardium is large and rounded, and unlike in some related species, it is not covered by the parapodia. Rhinophores are short, wide, and pale cream in color. The posterior end of the head is distinctly pigmented with dark brown or black. The eyes are conspicuous, black, and each is crossed by a dark longitudinal line that extends from the base of the rhinophores to the anterior edge of the parapodia. Foot is narrow (0.4\u20130.5 mm wide) and features well-developed pedal glands along its entire sole. Anus is located on the right side of the body, at the base of head. A distinctive black circular marking surrounds the anal papilla, a key identifying feature for this species. The foot angles are slightly pronounced. A transverse furrow is present ventrally at the level where the parapodia begin. Tail is short and conical.<\/p>\n

Biology
\n<\/strong>Elysia evelinae<\/em> inhabits shallow coastal environments. It has been found among algae in the upper littoral zone and is commonly associated with Dictyota<\/em> algae. As its parapodial margins are densely pigmented, the animal is well camouflaged in this environment. This species is a specialized suctorial feeder, primarily consuming benthic chain-forming diatoms of the genus Biddulphia<\/em>. It also feeds on epiphytic diatoms found on algae such as Bryopsis<\/em> and Caulerpa<\/em>, particularly in shaded areas. Feeding behavior involves extrusion of the pharyngeal bulb to engulf diatom cells, which are then pierced and emptied at a rate of 5\u201310 cells per minute. No other known Elysia<\/em> species exhibits this suctorial feeding strategy. As all other sacoglossans, Elysia evelinae<\/em> is a simultaneous hermaphrodite. Copulation occurs via penile insertion into the female aperture. Larval development is lecithotrophic, with veligers hatching after approximately 12 days at 20\u00b0C. Some larvae undergo metamorphosis while encapsulated, while others hatch as swimming veligers before settlement.<\/p>\n

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