Elysia ornata | |
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Elysia ornata | |
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Elysia ornata about 2 cm in length | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Family: | Plakobranchidae |
Genus: | Elysia |
Species: | E. ornata
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Binomial name | |
Elysia ornata |
Elysia ornata, commonly known as ornate elysia or ornate leaf slug, is a species of sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusk. This sea slug superficially resembles a nudibranch, yet it does not belong to that suborder of gastropods. Instead it is a member of the closely related clade Sacoglossa, the "sap-sucking" sea slugs.
Elysia ornata can grow to about 5 centimetres (2.0 in) in length. [2] It is a translucent greenish-yellow colour speckled with white and black. It has broad parapodia each edged with an orange band and a black margin. The rhinophores are similarly coloured with a band of orange and dark tips. [3] Its main food source is algae and are found on submergent vegetation. [4]
Elysia ornata is a tropical species found in both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. [3] It is found in the benthic zone at depths of 0–18 m (0–59 ft). [4]