{"id":46319,"date":"2025-03-22T13:30:27","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T12:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opistobranquis.info\/?page_id=46319"},"modified":"2025-03-22T13:42:24","modified_gmt":"2025-03-22T12:42:24","slug":"elysia-margaritae","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/opistobranquis.info\/en\/guia\/sacoglossa\/plakobranchoidea\/elysia-margaritae\/","title":{"rendered":"Elysia margaritae"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Elysia margaritae<\/em> De Fez, 1962<\/h3>\n

\"Elysia<\/div>
Elysia margaritae\u00a0Fez, 1962 @ Salento, Italy<\/em> by Fabio Vitale<\/center><\/span>

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WoRMS Taxonomic Information<\/h3>
Current accepted name: Elysia margaritae<\/em> Fez, 1962<\/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 margaritae<\/em> Fez, 1962<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/table>

Classification provided by the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). [182791<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>Taxonomic Note:\u00a0<\/strong>This is a rare sacoglossan species whose taxonomic identity has been questioned due to the lack of confirmed observations since its original description. However, the type locality of Elysia margaritae<\/em> (Port of Valencia, eastern coast of Spain) has undergone heavy anthropogenic impacts since De Fez (1962) found three large specimens of this species. The three specimens of E. margaritae<\/em> reported by Mart\u00edn-Herv\u00e1s et al. (2024) were collected in Lecce, southeastern Italy, and matched the original description by De Fez (1962), but with slight differences in radular morphology: De Fez identified radular teeth with a smooth lower cutting edge in the dissected specimen, whereas Mart\u00edn-Herv\u00e1s et al. (2024) used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and noted fine, small denticles along the edge, which likely went unnoticed in the original observations using a binocular magnifying glass. The newly collected specimens were sequenced and clustered phylogenetically with another GenBank specimen previously identified as Elysia translucens<\/em> (voucher #845), collected from Banyuls-sur-Mer, France (Christa et al., 2014). These recent molecular and morphological analyses confirm the separation of E. margaritae<\/em> from Elysia gordanae<\/em> by a 14.2% divergence in the COI gene (Mart\u00edn-Herv\u00e1s et al., 2024), despite its previous synonymization by Ortea et al. (1997; 2017). Key distinguishing features of E. margaritae<\/em> include smooth parapodial edges, a bright green body with small light-blue spots, and differences in radular morphology.<\/p>\n

Description
\n<\/strong>Body relatively long and wide, tapering slightly towards the posterior end, with a maximum recorded length of 15 mm (Mart\u00edn-Herv\u00e1s et al., 2024) and 40 mm (De Fez, 1962). Its coloration is greenish, with small light-blue spots irregularly distributed on the inner and outer sides of the parapodia and on the head. Some scattered white dots may also be present on the head and the sides of the parapodia. The parapodia are large, extending to the posterior end of the body and displaying undulating edges. The rhinophores are relatively long, rolled, and truncated at the tip, sharing the body’s uniform green coloration. The eyes are small and located behind the rhinophores. Dorsal renopericardial prominence rounded with two \u2018vessels\u2019 radiating from each side, branching irregularly on the inner face of each parapodium. The foot sole is slightly narrower than the body, lighter in coloration than the dorsum, and tapers to a rounded posterior end.<\/p>\n

Biology
\n<\/strong>Elysia margaritae<\/em> inhabits infralittoral zones at depths of up to 15 meters. It has been recorded from various coastal locations in Italy and France, though it remains an extremely rare species. As a sacoglossan, E. margaritae<\/em> is presumed to engage in kleptoplasty, feeding on specific algal species and retaining functional chloroplasts within its body for photosynthesis. However, its exact dietary preferences have yet to be documented. Little is known about its reproductive biology. Like other Elysia<\/em> species, it is hermaphroditic, engaging in reciprocal copulation and laying egg masses on algal substrates.<\/p>\n

Similar Species<\/strong><\/p>\n