Trapania euryeia is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.[2]

Trapania euryeia
The nudibranch Trapania euryeia, The River, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Doridina
Superfamily: Onchidoridoidea
Family: Goniodorididae
Genus: Trapania
Species:
T. euryeia
Binomial name
Trapania euryeia

Distribution edit

This species was described from Madang, Papua New Guinea. The original description included specimens from Réunion, Indonesia (Sulawesi and Bali), Okinawa, the Marshall Islands, Midway Atoll and Hawaii. It has subsequently been reported from places all across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including Luzon, Philippines and South Africa.[3]

Description edit

This goniodorid nudibranch is white, cream or pale yellow in colour, with a pattern of brown patches with fractal-like edges on the body. The gills, papillae and rhinophores are white flecked with brown. The oral tentacles are either orange or white and brown.[3] This species is quite variable across its wide range and may prove to be a species complex.

Ecology edit

Trapania euryeia probably feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on sponges and other living substrata.

References edit

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ Bouchet, P. (2015). Trapania euryeia. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-10-17
  3. ^ a b Rudman, W.B., 2008 (March 10) Trapania euryeia Gosliner & Fahey, 2008. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.