Sapsucking Slug – Elysia degeneri

, Sapsucking Slug, Elysia degeneri
Depth: 1 - 12 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 Sapsucking Slug – Elysia degeneri is a captivating species of sea slug known for its unique feeding habits and striking appearance. This fascinating creature belongs to the family Plakobranchidae and exhibits several intriguing characteristics that make it a subject of interest for marine biologists and enthusiasts alike.

Description & Characteristics

The Elysia degeneri is a relatively small sea slug, typically reaching a maximum size of around 20 millimeters. Its body is characterized by a vibrant green color, often adorned with white markings. The slug’s body is flattened and elongated, resembling a leaf in shape. This resemblance serves a dual purpose, providing camouflage among its preferred habitat of algae and enhancing its ability to absorb sunlight through a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae.

Habitat and Occurrence

The Elysia degeneri is found in a variety of marine environments, primarily in the Indo-Pacific region. It is typically found in shallow waters, often inhabiting rocky shores and coral reefs. The Sapsucking Slug prefers areas with abundant algae, its primary food source. This preference makes it a common sight in the intertidal zone, where it navigates the ebb and flow of the tides.

Taxonomy

The species Elysia degeneri belongs to the Class Gastropoda, a vast and diverse group of mollusks that includes snails, slugs, and sea hares. The Sapsucking Slug belongs to the family Plakobranchidae, a group of sea slugs known for their specialized feeding habits and symbiotic relationships with algae. The order of the Elysia degeneri has not been officially established.

Feeding

As its name suggests, the Elysia degeneri is a highly specialized feeder. This species primarily consumes algae, making it a herbivore. It exhibits a preference for specific types of algae, demonstrating a strong dietary niche. It utilizes its radula, a rasping tongue-like structure, to scrape algae off surfaces. In a remarkable display of adaptation, the Sapsucking Slug also hosts zooxanthellae, symbiotic algae that live within its body. These zooxanthellae provide the slug with a secondary source of energy through photosynthesis, particularly in environments where light is available. This symbiotic relationship allows the Elysia degeneri to survive in areas where its primary food source may be limited.

Associated Species

Image References

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