Kingdom Animalia Superfamily Plakobranchoidea Phylum Mollusca Rank Species | Class Gastropoda Family Plakobranchidae Genus Elysia | |
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Similar Elysia, Elysia ornata, Elysia pusilla, Sacoglossa, Plakobranchidae | ||
Elysia rufescens is a species of sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Plakobranchidae. This sea slug resembles a nudibranch but is not classified in that order of gastropods, instead belonging to a closely related clade, Sacoglossa, the "sap-sucking" sea slugs. This species was first described by Pease from Tahiti in 1871.
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Description
Elysia rufescens is olive green with large white spots, often in a reticulated pattern, and grows to about 6 centimetres (2.4 in). The parapodia are somewhat convoluted and have dark blue edges and a submarginal orange line. The rhinophores are rolled and have blunt, greyish ends.
Distribution
Elysia rufescens is found in the Pacific Ocean. Its range includes the coastlines of South Africa, Réunion, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Japan, Guam, Samoa, Tahiti, Hawaii and Australia.
Biology
Elysia rufescens feeds on green filamentous algae such as Bryopsis pennata, which it rasps with each of a series of rachidian teeth.
