Tethys fimbria | |
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Tethys fimbria on the sand bottom shows its broad oral hood on the left (the head end) and the body with two rows of spotted cerata | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
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Class: | |
(unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Nudipleura clade Nudibranchia clade Dexiarchia clade Cladobranchia clade Dendronotida |
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Genus: | |
Species: | T. fimbria |
Binomial name | |
Tethys fimbria | |
Synonyms [2] | |
Tethys leporina Linnaeus, 1758 Contents |
Tethys fimbria is a species of predatory sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tethydidae.
ICZN opinion 200 ruled that Tethys fimbria is a valid name and Tethys leporina Linnaeus, 1758 is a synonym. [2]
The distribution of Tethys fimbria includes the Mediterranean Sea and the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean from Portugal in the north, to the Gulf of Guinea in the south. [3]
The length of the body of Tethys fimbria can reach up to 30 cm (12 in). [3] Tethys fimbria is translucent, but it has dark spots on its cerata. [3] It has a broad oral hood in the frontal part of its body. [3] Rhinophores are small. [3] Tethys fimbria has no radula as is the case in all members of the family Tethydidae. [3]
The habitat of Tethys fimbria is seas which have sand or mud on the bottom, in depths from 20 to 150 m. [3]
Tethys fimbria captures and feeds on small crustaceans. [3] It uses its broad hood for catching them. [3]
The cerata can be self-amputated (autotomy) as a defence mechanism when the slug is in danger. [3]
Within the mantle large amounts of prostaglandins are produced. [4] Subsequently the prostoglandins are moved to the cerata. [4] The biosynthesis of prostgandins has been studied by Marzo et al. (1991). [4]
Nudibranchs are a group of soft-bodied marine gastropod molluscs that 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", "dragon", and "sea rabbit". Currently, about 3,000 valid species of nudibranchs are known.
Metarminoidea is a provisional taxonomic superfamily of colourful sea slugs, aeolid nudibranchs, marine opisthobranch gastropod molluscs in the clade Nudibranchia.
Aeolidia papillosa, known as the common grey sea slug, is a species of nudibranch in the family Aeolidiidae.
Tethydidae is a family of dendronotid nudibranch gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Tritonioidea.
Melibe viridis is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tethydidae.
The purple lady nudibranch, Paraflabellina funeka, is a species of aeolid nudibranch, and is a very colourful sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Flabellinidae.
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Doris verrucosa is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Dorididae.
Melibe rosea, the cowled nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, a dendronotid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tethydidae.
Phyllodesmium horridum, the coral nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.
Pteraeolidia ianthina is a sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch in the family Facelinidae. It is known as a blue dragon, a name it shares with Glaucus atlanticus and Glaucus marginatus.
Tethys is a genus of sea slugs, nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Tethydidae.
Edmundsella pedata is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Flabellinidae.
Coryphellina rubrolineata is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine heterobranch mollusc in the family Flabellinidae.
A cnidosac is an anatomical feature that is found in the group of sea slugs known as aeolid nudibranchs, a clade of marine opisthobranch gastropod molluscs. A cnidosac contains cnidocytes, stinging cells that are also known as cnidoblasts or nematocysts. These stinging cells are not made by the nudibranch, but by the species that it feeds upon. However, once the nudibranch is armed with these stinging cells, they are used in its own defense.
Melibe arianeae is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tethydidae.
Melibe papillosa is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tethydidae. This species is yellowish and somewhat translucent. The oral hood, which is large, has flattened hatchet-shaped cerata. It is found in the waters around Japan.
Aeolidia loui is a species of sea slugs, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae. It has been regarded as the same species as the NE Atlantic Aeolidia papillosa but is now known to be a distinct species. Common names include shaggy mouse nudibranch, and shag-rug nudibranch.