Pleurolidiidae

Characteristics

Pleurolidiidae are generally small, ranging in size from a few millimeters to a few centimeters. They are distinguished by several unique characteristics:

• Flattened body: They possess a dorsoventrally flattened body, allowing them to move easily through crevices and under rocks.
• Cerata: They have numerous, prominent cerata along the back, which are often brightly colored and serve as respiratory and defensive organs.
• Oral veil: A large, fleshy oral veil covers their mouth, which helps them in feeding and locomotion.
• Rhinophores: Two prominent rhinophores (sensory organs) located on the head, used to detect food and chemicals in the surrounding environment.

Feeding

Pleurolidiidae are specialized feeders, primarily preying on hydroids (colonial animals related to jellyfish). They use their oral veil to capture and manipulate hydroids, extracting the nutrient-rich polyps using their radula (a rasping tongue). They can also feed on other cnidarians like sea anemones and corals.

Environments

Pleurolidiidae are found in a variety of marine environments, but are most commonly associated with coral reefs and rocky shores. They are often found in crevices, under rocks, and on the undersides of coral colonies, where they can easily access their prey.

Distribution

These fascinating creatures are distributed globally, primarily in tropical and subtropical waters. They have been documented in the Indo-Pacific region, the Caribbean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, among other locations.

References

For further information, please refer to the following resources:

• World Register of Marine Species
• Sea Slug Forum
• ResearchGate