Okenia mediterranea

Okenia mediterranea is a species of sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.

Okenia mediterranea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Euctenidiacea
clade Doridacea
Superfamily:
Onchidoridoidea
Family:
Goniodorididae
Genus:
Okenia
Species:
O. mediterranea
Binomial name
Okenia mediterranea
(von Ihering, 1886)[1]

Distribution

This species was described from the Mediterranean Sea.[2]

Description

This Okenia has a broad body and nine pairs of lateral papillae. There is a ridge of short, partly fused papillae down the midline in front of the gills and a row of three short papillae or tubercles on either side of this ridge. The body is translucent white and the papillae and gills are yellow, spotted with orange. There are additional orange spots on the back in most individuals.[2]

Ecology

The diet of this species is the ctenostome bryozoan Alcyonidium cf. mytili.[3]

References
  1. von Ihering, H. (1886), Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Nudibranchien des Mittelmeeres, 2. 4, Die Polyceraden. Malakozool. Blatt. NF. 8: 12-48
  2. Rudman, W.B., 2001 (February 25) Okenia mediterranea (von Ihering, 1886). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  3. Cervera, J.L., Lopez-Gonzalez, P.J. & Garcia-Gomez, J.C . (1991) Taxonomic and geographical range data on two rare species of Okenia (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia: Doridacea) from the eastern Atlantic. The Veliger, 34: 56-66.
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