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Additional Photos
parapodia
underside
papillae detail
light
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Elysia cf. trisinuata Baba, 1949
Maximum size: 20 mm.
Identification:
This
species
is
olive green, faintly mottled in red-brown. The parapodia have three low
chimneys frosted with white and the papillate rhinophores may
be tipped in brick red or frosted with white. The body surface is
covered with small papillae giving it a
felt-like appearance and scattered, more-elongate papillae are tipped with white. The inner surfaces of the parapodia have many
elevated veins.
Natural history: Elysia cf. trisinuata is a rare species known from only two animals. The French Frigate Shoals animal was found, during
sorting, in a sample of Codium
sp. collected from shallow
water, probably at less than 1 m (3 ft). The Maui animal was found on Codium sp. in shallow water. It almost perfectly mimics the
appearance of its host algae and
is known to feed on Codium
elsewhere in the Pacific.
Distribution:
Maui and French Frigate Shoals: widely distributed in the central and western Pacific.
Taxonomic notes:
This species matches most animals labeled Elysia trisinuata on-line. However, it's listed in Gosliner, et. al., 2008 as "Elysia sp. 18" and as "Elysia sp. 28" in Gosliner, et. al, 2018. Meanwhile, the photographs of E. trisinuata from Sagami Bay posted on the Sea Slug Forum
by Cynthia Trowbridge appear to have smoother, more truncated
rhinophores. So, the status of the name is uncertain. It was first
recorded in Hawaii by the 2006 CREEF expedition on Oct. 22, 2006.
The name means "having three bends."
Photo:
CP: 20 mm: 2006
CREEF
expedition; French Frigate Shoals; Oct. 22, 2006.
Observations and comments:
Note
1:
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