Kingdom Animalia Superfamily Pleurobranchoidea Genus Berthella Higher classification Berthella | Phylum Mollusca Family Pleurobranchidae Scientific name Berthella ornata Rank Species | |
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Similar Berthella, Berthella martensi, Berthellina, Pleurobranchidae | ||
Berthella ornata is a species of sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pleurobranchidae. It is sometimes called the Ornate side-gilled sea slug.
Contents
Description
This is a distinctive pleurobranch up to 70mm in length, the dorsal surface bearing reddish or brownish spots overlaying an opaque background that can vary from white to dark red or brown. A shell up to 20mm is hidden under the smooth mantle, which is white at the margin, the foot and gill are also white. The rhinophores are brown with white tips. B. ornata is slow moving and feeds on sponges at night, often emitting a milky fluid if disturbed. It is usually found hiding under boulders and stones during the day, with the head and rhinophores retracted under the mantle.
Distribution
Endemic to New Zealand, where it is becoming less common. It is found at low tide through the sub-littoral fringe down to 6 metres deep.