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 Elysia sp.
Sea slug
                         

                           Sheridan Rabbitt (2013)

 

Fact Sheet

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Summary


Physical Description

Size and Colouration


External Anatomy


Ecology

Local Distribution and Microhabitat


Life History & Behaviour

Reproduction


Development and Locomotion


Feeding and Respiration


Behavioural Observations


Anatomy & Physiology

Internal Anatomy


Histological Sectioning


Evolution & Systematics

Phylogeny and Kleptoplasty


Biogeographic Distribution


Conservation & Threats


References & Links

Reference List


Useful Links


Glossary

Summary

This Elysia sp. is an opisthobranch sea slug  in the order sacoglossa, sometimes referred to as the ascoglossa, collectively known as the sap-sucking sea slugs. It is a member of the Elysiidae family, which are characterised by the prominent parapodia extending laterally from their midline.

The Elysiidae family has three genera, Elysia, Bosellia and Thuridilla. The Elysia  genus is the largest with nearly 100 species described. They are often referred to as the solar-powered sea slugs, as many members of this genus are able to 'photosynthesise' by uptaking chloroplasts from the algae they consume. Despite this, not a lot of work has been done on the genus as a whole, though many species, and in particular Elysia chlorotica, have been studied in detail.

Elysia sp. has been found to be new to science, and is currently in the process of being described (personal communication). This webpage will be updated once a name has been decided upon and a description of the species published. 

All photos and videos on this site were taken by Sheridan Rabbitt at Heron Island or at the University of Queensland unless otherwise noted. 

Classification

Minimize
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia

Synonyms

Pattyclaya arena ((Carlson & Hoff, 1978))
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia

Synonyms

Elysia setoensis (Hamatani, 1968)
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia

Synonyms

Actaeon australis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia

Synonyms

Pattyclaya brycei (Jensen & Wells, 1990)
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia

Synonyms

Elysia eugeniae (Ortea & Espinosa, 2002)
Elysia purchoni (Thompson, 1977)
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia

Synonyms

Elysia zemi (Krug, Vendetti & Valdés, 2016)
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia

Common Names

eastern emerald elysia
emerald elysia
emerald green sea slug
Smaragd-Samtschnecke
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia

Synonyms

Elysia clarki (Pierce, Curtis, Massey, Bass, Karl & Finney, 2006)
Elysia crispata (Mörch, 1863)
Elysia crispata schiadura (Mörch, 1863)
Elysia schrammi (Mörch, 1863)
Tridachia crispata ((Mörch, 1863))
Tridachia schrammi ((Mörch, 1863))
Tridachia whiteae (Er. Marcus, 1957)

Common Names

lettuce sea slug
lettuce slug
Kräuselschnecke
Salatschnecke
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia

Synonyms

Tridachia diomedea (Bergh, 1894)
Tridachiella diomedea ((Bergh, 1894))
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia

Synonyms

Placobranchus expansa (O'Donoghue, 1924)
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Not assigned
Superfamily
Plakobranchoidea
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia