Berthella plumula
| Berthella plumula | |
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| Species: | B. plumula
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| Binomial name | |
| Berthella plumula (George Montagu, 1803)
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Berthella plumula, commonly known as yellow-plumed sea slug, is a gastropod mollusc usually found on rocky coasts in the infralittoral zone[1] and which can live up to 30m depth.[2]
Description
Berthella plumula is an oval-shaped sea slug with an internal shell, which can be up to 30mm long. The body is up to 60mm and has a cream to orange colour and often displays reticulate markings. The head is flat and a large oral veil lies between the propodium and the mantle. The rhinophores are protruding and enrolled.[2] The species has acid glands in the skin which secrete sulphuric acid for protection in case of danger.[3]
Distribution
The yellow-plumed sea slug is found in the north-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, the English Channel and the North Sea.[4]
Behavior
Diet
Berthella plumula is a slow moving predator which scrapes its radula on rocks to feed on colonial ascidians of the genus Botryllus as well as on Oscarella sponges.[1][2]
Reproduction
The species is hermaphrodite and the two individuals reciprocally fecundate each other by exchanging their sperm. The reproductive period occurs in spring. The laying is tube-shaped and the eggs are displayed in spiral.[4]
Similar species
Berthella plumula can be mistaken with Berthella stellata, which is smaller and displaying a small white mark on its back, and Bertellina edwardsi, which is usually bigger and more red.[4]
References
- ^ a b Hayward, Peter; Nelson-Smith, Tony; Shields, Chris (2014). Guide des bords de mer : Mer du Nord, Manche, Atlantique, Méditerranée. Delachaux et Niestlé. ISBN 9782603020029. OCLC 882238836.
- ^ a b c Hayward, Peter J.; Ryland, John S., eds. (2017-02-02). "Handbook of the Marine Fauna of North-West Europe". doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199549443.001.0001.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "MarLIN - The Marine Life Information Network - Yellow-plumed sea slug (Berthella plumula)". www.marlin.ac.uk. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
- ^ a b c "Berthella plumula | DORIS". doris.ffessm.fr. Retrieved 2019-02-25.