| Berthellina citrina | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Pleurobranchida |
| Family: | Pleurobranchidae |
| Genus: | Berthellina |
| Species: | B. citrina |
| Binomial name | |
| Berthellina citrina | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
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Berthellina citrina, the orange gumdrop, [2] is a species of sea slug in the family Pleurobranchidae. It is found in rock pools in the intertidal zone and in shallow water in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific region.
Berthellina citrina grows to a maximum length of about 3 cm (1.2 in) and has a broadly ovate body. It varies in colour from a translucent pale yellow to a brick red. The head bears a triangular oral veil with a ventral groove, and a pair of rhinophores rolled into tubes. The surface of the mantle is studded with small white glands which produce a distasteful whitish secretion. The remnants of the shell are embedded in the mantle and the gut is visible through the overlying tissues. [3] There is a single gill located in a gap between the mantle and the foot on the right-hand side, with around twenty pectinate lamellae on each side.[ citation needed ]
Berthellina citrina is a common species found throughout the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, and as far south as New Zealand. [3] As well as being found in rock pools, it occurs on reefs and among boulders in the shallow subtidal zone, and down to a maximum depth of 150 m (500 ft). It is nocturnal and hides in crevices and under rocks during the day. [2]
Sea slugs in this family mostly feed on sponges, and Berthellina citrina is no exception. In Hawaii, however, it has been observed feeding on the corals Tubastrea coccinea , Leptastrea sp. and Porites lobata , [3] and it also consumes detritus. [2] The glandular secretion is released when the mantle surface is stimulated and is acidic, containing chlorine and sulphate ions. It is used as a defence against predators, and in laboratory experiments repelled sea anemones, fish, and crustaceans. [4] Sea slugs in the Pleurobranchidae are hermaphrodites. The eggs are laid in an orange spiral jelly-like egg ribbon.[ citation needed ]
Bursatella leachii, common name the ragged sea hare or shaggy sea hare, is a species of large sea slug or sea hare, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Aplysiidae, the sea hares.
Haminoeoidea is a taxonomic superfamily of small sea snails or bubble shells, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the clade Cephalaspidea, the headshield slugs and bubble snails.
The Spanish dancer, scientific name Hexabranchus sanguineus, is a dorid nudibranch, a very large and colorful sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Hexabranchidae.
The Pleurobranchidae are a taxonomic family of sea slugs, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Pleurobranchomorpha.
Chromodoris is a genus of very colourful sea slugs or dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod molluscs, and the type genus of in the family Chromodorididae. Within the genus Chromodoris, there are currently 101 classified species. Species within Chromodoris are commonly found in tropical and subtropical waters, living as members of reef communities and preying primarily on sponges. A molecular phylogeny of the family Chromodorididae resulted in this genus being restricted to a smaller number of species than formerly, most of which have longitudinal black lines on the mantle. Many former members of Chromodoris were transferred to Goniobranchus
Pleurobranchus forskalii is a species of side-gill sea slug, a notaspidean, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pleurobranchidae.
Goniobranchus tinctorius is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.
Hypselodoris infucata is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.
Pleurobranchus is a genus of sea slugs, specifically side-gill slugs, marine gastropod mollusc in the family Pleurobranchidae.
Glossodoris pallida is a species of a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.
Goniobranchus obsoletus is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.
Gymnodoris is a genus of sea slugs, dorid nudibranchs, shell-less marine gastropod molluscs in the family Polyceridae.
Hypselodoris pulchella is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.
Berthella is a genus of sea slugs, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pleurobranchidae.
Goniobranchus reticulatus is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.
Berthella martensi is a species of sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pleurobranchidae.
Ochetostoma erythrogrammon is a species of spoon worm in the family Thalassematidae. It is found in shallow water in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans, burrowing in soft sediment.
Berthella ocellata is a species of sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Pleurobranchidae. It is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea where it inhabits the shallow sublittoral zone.
Berthella stellata is a species of sea slug in the family Pleurobranchidae. It is found in shallow water in the Mediterranean Sea, the western Atlantic Ocean and the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific region.