Glossodoris rufomarginata
| Glossodoris rufomarginata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Glossodoris rufomarginata | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura |
| Superfamily: | Doridoidea |
| Family: | Chromodorididae |
| Genus: | Glossodoris |
| Species: | G. rufomarginata |
| Binomial name | |
| Glossodoris rufomarginata (Bergh, 1890) | |
Glossodoris rufomarginata, commonly called white-margin sea slug or caramel nudibranch,[1] is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.
Description
Glossodoris rufomarginata has a commonly observed length of 3.5 cm, with a maximum length of 5 cm.[1][2] The background coloration of the entire body is whitish with on the foot and the dorsal surface speckled with a dense coat of tiny red dots to orange-brown that gives the impression at first glance that the animal is brown. The edge of the mantle is well developed and wavy with a broad white band with a red to orange-brown outer border. The foot has also a white external margin. The rhinophores and branchial plume are retractable[1] with a red to orange-brown coloration with a white median line on rhinophores and a white highlight on the gills axes.
Distribution & habitat
This species occurs in the tropical waters of Indo-Pacific area. It has been observed in localities as far distant from one another as Tanzania in Africa, Mayotte, but it occurs mainly from Sri Lanka to Polynesia and Hawaii.,[2][3] This nudibranch can be observed mostly on reef and rocky areas in sheltered as in exposed environment but with a preference for area in the shade.[3]
Biology
Glossodoris rufomarginata has a daytime activity[3] and can be easily met on or in close proximity to its favorite food source which are some black sponges of the family Thorectidae,[1][4]
References
- 1 2 3 4 http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=2191&fiche_etat=4&origine=
- 1 2 http://seaslugs.free.fr/nudibranche/a_glosso_rufomarginata.htm
- 1 2 3 http://seaslugsofhawaii.com/species/Glossodoris-rufomarginata-a.html
- ↑ Sea Slug Forum Messages, accessed 14 December 2009.