Empress Aeolidella – Aeolidiella drusilla

, Empress Aeolidella, Aeolidiella drusilla
Depth: 0 - 58 m

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf

Empress Aeolidella, scientifically known as Aeolidiella drusilla, is a captivating species of sea slug belonging to the family Aeolidiidae. This vibrant nudibranch is a fascinating creature exhibiting striking colors and unique characteristics, making it a subject of intrigue for marine biologists and enthusiasts alike.

Description & Characteristics

Aeolidiella drusilla is a small nudibranch, typically reaching a maximum size of a few centimeters. The most distinctive feature of this species is its brightly colored body, often displaying a combination of orange, yellow, and white. The body is elongated and slender, with numerous cerata—finger-like projections—extending from its back. These cerata play a crucial role in the slug’s defense mechanism, containing stinging nematocysts acquired from its prey.

Habitat and Occurrence

Aeolidiella drusilla is a common inhabitant of various marine environments. This species can be found in both sandy and stony substrates, making it a versatile dweller. The Empress Aeolidella thrives in the subtidal, sublittoral, and infralittoral zones, ranging from the lower limit of the intertidal zone down to the shelf edge at approximately 200 meters deep. This adaptability allows it to flourish across a wide range of marine environments, making it a notable resident of the neritic zone.

Taxonomy

Aeolidiella drusilla is classified within the phylum Mollusca, belonging to the Class Gastropoda, Order Nudibranchia, and Family Aeolidiidae. This classification reflects its evolutionary history and close relationships with other sea slugs, highlighting its unique adaptations and characteristics within the broader spectrum of marine life.

Feeding

Aeolidiella drusilla is a carnivorous predator, feeding primarily on cnidarians, such as hydroids and jellyfish. The slug’s feeding behavior is predatory, actively hunting and consuming its prey. As it consumes cnidarians, it stores the stinging nematocysts within its cerata, utilizing them for its own defense. This process, known as kleptocnidae, allows the Empress Aeolidella to effectively utilize its prey’s weaponry for its own survival.

Associated Species

Image References

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