Cephalopyge trematoides | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Order: | Nudibranchia |
Suborder: | Cladobranchia |
Family: | Phylliroidae |
Genus: | Cephalopyge Hanel, 1905 |
Species: | C. trematoides |
Binomial name | |
Cephalopyge trematoides (Chun, 1889) | |
Synonyms | |
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Cephalopyge trematoides is a pelagic species of nudibranch. A free-swimming marine gastropod in the family Phylliroidae. [2] Cephalopyge trematoides is the only known species in its genus (i.e. the genus is monotypic). [3]
Cephalopyge is a contraction of cephalus (Greek: κεφαλή kephale, "head") and pyge (πūγή, "behind") referring to the position of the anus close to the head. The species epithet trematoides expresses a likeness to flukes. [1]
C. trematoides grows to 2.5 cm in length. It swims at approximately 12 cm/s, by passing several undulatory waves down its body each second. [4] It is flattened and transparent; its internal organs are visible. [3]
Of the approximately 3000 species of nudibranch, the vast majority are benthic, only a couple are neustonic, and C. trematoides is very unusual in that it is pelagic. [5] [6] It is estimated to be one of only five planktonic nudibranch species (another epipelagic example is Phylliroe bucephala ). [7]
Further information (including photos):
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