Melibe arianeae

Melibe arianeae is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tethydidae.[1]

Melibe arianeae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Dexiarchia
clade Cladobranchia
clade Dendronotida
Superfamily:
Tritonioidea
Family:
Tethydidae
Genus:
Melibe
Species:
M. arianeae
Binomial name
Melibe arianeae
Espinoza, DuPont & Valdés, 2013

Description

The overall shape of Melibe arianeae is elongate and limaciform. Anterolaterally, it is compressed to a small degree. It tapers posteriorly to form a long and conical shape to the end of the foot.[2][3][4]

The surface of the body of this species is almost transparent. It and the cerata and rhinophoral sheaths are completely covered with multiple, tiny tubercles that are white and opaque. The surface has blotches that are white and opaque as well as multiple orange flecks. The internal organs appear orange-brownish.

The cerata are mainly warty in appearance due to complete coverage of small tubercules. They are oval and are inflated with their distal ends being bifurcate or trifurcate, or, simple. Within the cerata, the branches of the digestive gland are visible due to the cerata being transparent. This gland appears as an axis brownish in colour.[5][6]

Distribution

This species is found in the tropical western Atlantic, the type material, so far the only material known, was found in Florida.[7]

References
  1. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Melibe arianeae Espinoza, DuPont & Valdés, 2013".
  2. "Two views of the holotype of Melibe arianeae sp. n. (LACM 3258). A".
  3. http://species-id.net/wiki/Melibe_arianeae
  4. http://slugsite.us/bow2007/melibearianeae.pdf
  5. "Two views of the holotype of Melibe arianeae sp. n. (LACM 3258). A".
  6. http://slugsite.us/bow2007/melibearianeae.pdf
  7. "Opisthobranch of the Week is Melibe arianeae".


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