Nudibranch – Aegires lemoncello

, Nudibranch, Aegires lemoncello

Aegires lemoncello is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Aegiridae. Aegires lemoncello is a striking and distinctive nudibranch with a bright yellow body and orange rhinophores.

Description & Characteristics

Aegires lemoncello is a small to medium-sized nudibranch, typically reaching a maximum length of 20 mm. Its body is elongated and slender, with a characteristic bright yellow color, often with orange or reddish-brown markings. The rhinophores, which are sensory organs located on the head, are orange and club-shaped. The cerata, which are finger-like projections on the back of the animal, are also orange and are covered in small, white spots.

Habitat and Occurrence

Aegires lemoncello is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, primarily in the Western Pacific Ocean. It is a common nudibranch in these waters, inhabiting a variety of marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and rocky shores. Aegires lemoncello can be found in a wide range of depths, from shallow tide pools to deeper reefs, typically in areas with a high abundance of sponges.

Taxonomy

The species Aegires lemoncello belongs to the Class: Gastropoda, Order: Nudibranchia, and Family: Aegiridae. This family is characterized by their distinctive bright coloration and their specialized feeding habits, being primarily sponge eaters.

Feeding

Aegires lemoncello is a specialist feeder, relying almost exclusively on sponges for sustenance. It feeds on a variety of sponge species, using its radula, a tongue-like structure covered in teeth, to scrape off the sponge tissue. The nudibranch is able to store the sponge’s defensive toxins within its own body, providing it with protection from predators.

Associated Species

Image References

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