Facelina bostoniensis

Facelina bostoniensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia

clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Dexiarchia
clade Cladobranchia
clade Aeolidida

Superfamily: Aeolidioidea
Family: Facelinidae
Subfamily: Facelininae
Genus: Facelina
Species: F. bostoniensis
Binomial name
Facelina bostoniensis
(Couthouy, 1838)[1]

Facelina bostoniensis is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch in the family Facelinidae.[2]

Distribution

This species was described from Massachusetts Bay. It is found on both sides of the North Atlantic ocean.

Description

The body of Facelina bostoniensis is translucent white with a pink coloured hue around the mouth. The oesophagus, situated just behind the rhinophores, is clearly visible as a curved red tube. There are some patches of white pigment on the head, between the rhinophores and down the tail of the animal. Some individuals have blue iridescence in small areas around the head and rarely specimens with extensive blue colouration are found. The rhinophores are annulate, the oral tentacles are very long, both sets of tentacles are tipped with white pigment. Large individuals may grow to approximately 55 mm in length.[3]

Habitat

Commonly found in tidepools on the lower shore and amongst hydroids in fast-flowing water as well as in very sheltered muddy areas. Facelina bostoniensis feeds on a variety of hydroids and may attack and eat other aeolid nudibranchs.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Couthouy J. P. (1838). Descriptions of new species of Mollusca and shells, and remarks on several Polypi, found in Massachusetts Bay. Boston Journal of Natural History 2 (1): 53-111, pl. 1-3.
  2. ↑ Gofas, S. (2015). Facelina bostoniensis (Couthouy, 1838). In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-10-07
  3. ↑ Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2015). Facelina bostoniensis (Couthouy, 1838). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. Accessed on 2015-10-7
  4. ↑ Rudman, W.B., 1999 (August 7) Facelina bostoniensis (Couthouy, 1838). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.


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