Chelidonura varians
| Chelidonura varians | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Cephalaspidea |
| Family: | Aglajidae |
| Genus: | Chelidonura |
| Species: | C. varians
|
| Binomial name | |
| Chelidonura varians Eliot, 1903
| |
Chelidonura varians is a species of small sea slug, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusc in the order Cephalaspidea, the headshield slugs.[1]
Description & habitat
[edit]
This species has a maximum size of 70 mm.[2] The background color is deep black. The margin of the parapods and body are marked with a thin electric blue line. The two rather long "tails" at the end of the animal are characteristic of the genus Chelidonura, the left one is always longer. They have also well-developed sensory cilia on the anterior edge of the head which are used to find their prey.[2][3]
This species lives on reef areas in shallow water lagoons with sandy or muddy bottom until 30 m depth.[4]
Distribution
[edit]This cephalaspidean is widespread in the tropical waters of the Indo-west Pacific region.[3]
Diet
[edit]Chelidonura varians feeds on flatworms and it is used in aquariums to eradicate small flat worm invasions.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Chelidonura varians Eliot, 1903". www.marinespecies.org.
- ^ a b "Les nudibranches de l'Ile de la Réunion (océan Indien)". seaslugs.free.fr.
- ^ a b "The Sea Slug Forum - Chelidonura varians". 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Chelidonura varians | DORIS". doris.ffessm.fr.
- ^ "Blue Velvet Nudibranch: Saltwater Invertebrates for Marine Reef Aquariums". www.liveaquaria.com.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Chelidonura varians at Wikimedia Commons- SeaslugForum
- Photos of Chelidonura varians on Sealife Collection
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