Leopard Jorunna – Jorunna pardus

, Leopard Jorunna, Jorunna pardus
Depth: 5 - 18 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, Ireland, 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, Northern Ireland, 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 Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wales, 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, Yellow Sea

The Leopard Jorunna – Jorunna pardus is a captivating species of sea slug, known for its striking appearance and unique feeding habits. It belongs to the family Discodorididae, a group of nudibranchs distinguished by their often-vibrant colors and diverse shapes.

Description & Characteristics

The Jorunna pardus, as its name suggests, sports a leopard-like pattern of dark brown spots against a cream-colored background. This color combination helps it camouflage effectively against the rocky environment it calls home. The slug’s body is typically elongated, with a rounded, bulbous head and two prominent rhinophores, sensory organs used to detect chemical signals in the water. Jorunna pardus can reach a maximum size of about 3 centimeters, making it a relatively small but visually striking nudibranch.

Habitat and Occurrence

The Leopard Jorunna is a creature of the intertidal and tidal zones, frequently found in habitats characterized by stony soils and rocky outcrops. It can be observed in various marine zones, including the littoral zone, which encompasses the area between high and low tide marks, and the sublittoral zone, extending from the low tide mark to the edge of the continental shelf. This adaptable species thrives in these environments, where it can easily find food and shelter.

Taxonomy

The species Jorunna pardus belongs to the Class: Gastropoda, Order: Nudibranchia, and Family: Discodorididae. This classification reflects the evolutionary relationships and shared characteristics of this diverse group of marine invertebrates. The order Nudibranchia, commonly known as sea slugs, encompasses a vast array of colorful and fascinating creatures, while the family Discodorididae is characterized by their often-flattened bodies and distinctive external gills.

Feeding

Jorunna pardus is a specialist feeder, meaning it relies primarily on a single food source. This food source is sponges, which they consume using their radula, a ribbon-like structure studded with teeth. The Leopard Jorunna’s feeding habits play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of its marine ecosystem.

Associated Species

Image References

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