Berthellina citrina
(Ruppell & Leuckart, 1828)

Order: NOTASPIDEA
Superfamily: PLEUROBRANCHOIDEA
Family: Pleurobranchidae

DISTRIBUTION

Common throughout the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-West Pacific, found even in northern New Zealand.

PHOTO

UPPER: Colour variation - Fumba, Zanzibar, Tanzania, July 1971.
LOWER: Anterior end showing rolled rhinophoral head tentacles and the triangular oral veil. Note the ventral groove that can be seen along the edge of the veil. Koumac, New Caledonia, October 1993. PHOTOS: Bill Rudman.

Berthellina citrina is a common pleurobranch found throughout the Indo-West Pacific and adjacent temperate waters. It often has a small flat shell remnant hidden in the mantle skin above the digestive gland and ranges in colour from a pale translucent yellow through to a bright red. The back is covered in small white gland cells which secrete a milky white defensive secretion.

Berthellina citrina is normally found feeding on a variety of sponges, but Scott Johnson has reported it feeding on the three species of coral: Tubastrea coccinea, Leptastrea sp. and Porites lobata, in Hawaii.

Reference:
• Willan, R.C. (1984). A review of diets in the Notaspidea (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia). Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia, 6: 125-142.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (March 9) Berthellina citrina (Ruppell & Leuckart, 1828). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/bertcitr

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