Trapania caerulea is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.[2]
| Trapania caerulea | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Doridina |
| Superfamily: | Onchidoridoidea |
| Family: | Goniodorididae |
| Genus: | Trapania |
| Species: | T. caerulea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Trapania caerulea | |
Distribution edit
Description edit
This goniodorid nudibranch is translucent blue in colour, mostly obscured by opaque white surface pigment. The gills and rhinophores are brown. There are two thin brown lines running from behind the rhinophores to the sides of the body where they follow the mantle edge and join behind the gills.[3]
Ecology edit
Trapania caerulea probably feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on sponges and other living substrata.
References edit
- ^ Gosliner, T.M. & Fahey, S.H. (2008) Systematics of Trapania (Mollusca: Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae) with descriptions of 16 new species Systematics and Biodiversity, 6 (1): 53-98
- ^ Bouchet, P. (2015). Trapania caerulea. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-10-17
- ^ a b Rudman, W.B., 2008 (March 10) Trapania caerulea Gosliner & Fahey, 2008. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
External links edit
- Photos of Trapania caerulea on Sealife Collection