Bulbaeolidia alba | |
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The nudibranch Bulbaeolidia alba, Segara, Tulamben, Bali. | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
(unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Nudipleura clade Nudibranchia clade Dexiarchia clade Cladobranchia clade Aeolidida |
Superfamily: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | B. alba |
Binomial name | |
Bulbaeolidia alba (Risbec, 1928) [1] | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Bulbaeolidia alba is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae. [3] [2]
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. Other ways of defining species include their karyotype, DNA sequence, morphology, behaviour or ecological niche. In addition, paleontologists use the concept of the chronospecies since fossil reproduction cannot be examined. While these definitions may seem adequate, when looked at more closely they represent problematic species concepts. For example, the boundaries between closely related species become unclear with hybridisation, in a species complex of hundreds of similar microspecies, and in a ring species. Also, among organisms that reproduce only asexually, the concept of a reproductive species breaks down, and each clone is potentially a microspecies.
Sea slug is a common name for some marine invertebrates with varying levels of resemblance to terrestrial slugs. Most creatures known as sea slugs are actually gastropods, i.e. they are sea snails that over evolutionary time have either completely lost their shells, or have seemingly lost their shells due to having a greatly reduced or internal shell. The name "sea slug" is most often applied to nudibranchs, as well as to a paraphyletic set of other marine gastropods without obvious shells.
Nudibranchs are a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms, and they have been given colourful nicknames to match, such as "clown", "marigold", "splendid", "dancer", and "dragon". Currently, about 3,000 valid species of nudibranchs are known.
This species was described from New Caledonia. It has been reported from localities in the Central Indo-Pacific region to Réunion and Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. [4]
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France, currently governed under the Nouméa Accord, located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, to the south of Vanuatu, about 1,210 km (750 mi) east of Australia and 20,000 km (12,000 mi) from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Chesterfield Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of Pines, and a few remote islets. The Chesterfield Islands are in the Coral Sea. French people, and especially locals, refer to Grande Terre as Le Caillou.
The Central Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean, the eastern Indian Ocean, and the connecting seas.
Réunion is an overseas department and region of France and an island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and 175 km (109 mi) southwest of Mauritius. As of January 2019, it had a population of 866,506.
Aeolidiidae, a family of aeolid nudibranchs, are a family of sea slugs, shell-less marine gastropod molluscs.
Aeolidia is a genus of sea slugs, aeolid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Aeolidiidae.
Aeolidiella is a genus of sea slugs, aeolid nudibranchs, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Aeolidiidae.
Spurilla is a genus of sea slugs, aeolid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Aeolidiidae.
Thorunna australis is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.
Verconia decussata is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.
Verconia romeri is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.
Cadlinella ornatissima is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.
Goniodoris violacea is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.
Bulbaeolidia is a genus of marine nudibranch in the family Aeolidiidae.
Trinchesia acinosa is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trinchesiidae.
Aeolidiella rubra is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch in the family Aeolidiidae.
Platydoris carinata is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, shell-less marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Discodorididae found in New Caledonia.
Platydoris spongilla is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, shell-less marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Discodorididae.
Atagema spinosa is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Discodorididae.
Facelina fragilis is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.
Caloria guenanti is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.
Herviella exigua is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.
Phidiana bourailli is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine, gastropod mollusk in the family Facelinidae.
Joubiniopsis is a genus of sea slugs, specifically nudibranchs, shell-less marine gastropod molluscs in the family Polyceridae.