Hermissenda crassicornis
| Hermissenda crassicornis | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura |
| Superfamily: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | H. crassicornis
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| Binomial name | |
| Hermissenda crassicornis Eschscholtz, 1831
| |
Hermissenda crassicornis is a species of brightly coloured, sea slug or nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.[1]
Distribution
This nudibranch lives from Kodiak Island, Alaska, to Northern California. It is replaced by Hermissenda opalescens to the south of Northern California.[2]
Habitat
This species is found in various habitats, including the intertidal zone of rocky shores, but also in bays and estuaries.
Description
The species grows to be about 50 mm, or about 2 inches. The colour of this nudibranch varies from one locality to another, but it is always easily recognizable by the orange stripe along its head area and the white stripes on the cerata.[3]
Life habits
This nudibranch feeds on hydroids and other marine organisms such as ascidians and sea anemones. It sometimes attacks other nudibranchs, and will eat smaller specimens of its own species.
References
- ^ Rosenberg, G. (2011). Hermissenda crassicornis (Eschscholtz, 1831). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-06-03
- ^ Lindsay, T. & Valdés, Á. (2016) The Model Organism Hermissenda crassicornis (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) Is a Species Complex. PLoS ONE 11(4): e0154265.
- ^ Thomas, C., 2007 (Apr 4) Colour variation in Hermissenda crassicornis. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
