Elysia papillosa
Verrill, 1901

Order: SACOGLOSSA
Superfamily: ELYSIOIDEA
Family: Elysiidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known only from Florida and Bermudas.

PHOTO

Upper: Florida Keys, USA., in shallow water in association with multiple Caulerpa species. 7mm long. Photo: Anna L. Bass. Lower: Great Exuma, Bahamas, Western Atlantic. Site: Stocking Island, Hole n°2. 5 February, 2004. Depth: 1m. Size: 5-6mm. Photo: Marina Poddubetskaia.

Kerry Clark (1994) considered that this 'species' may in fact be a collection of cryptic or sibling species. As its name suggests this species is characterised by the papillae, usually white, which cover most parts of the animal except the sole of the foot. This species is pale green with a broad whitish band along the parapodial edge. The head is often white, The pericardium is brownish, and there can be white blotches on the inside of the parapodia. Along the parapodial edge there is a line of brownish granules which in larger specimens can coalesce into a distinct dark line. It has been reported (Clark, 1984) to feed on algae of the genera Halimeda and Penicillus and Udotea flabellum.

See Phanor Montoya's message with a possible record from Colombia.

References:
• Clark, K.B. (1984) New records and synonymies of Bermuda opisthobranchs (Gastropoda). The Nautilus, 98(2): 85-97.
• Clark, K.B. (1994) Ascoglossan (Sacoglossan) Molluscs in the Florida Keys: Rare marine invertebrates at special risk. Bull. Mar. Sci. 54(3): 900-916.
• Redfern. C., 2001. Bahamian Seashells: a Thousand Species from Abaco, Bahamas.
• Verrill, A.E. (1901) Additions to the fauna of the Bermudas. Trans. Connecticut. Acad., 11 (1901-03) pt. 1(2): 15-62, pls 1-9.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (January 13) Elysia papillosa Verrill, 1901. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/elyspapi

Copyright © Australian Museum, 1998-2010