The solar-powered 'Ruffled Sea Slug'

December 5, 1999
From: Molly E. Hagan

Hello!
I am looking for information concerning a species referred to as a "ruffled sea slug". I know that it has the unusual ability to apply the byproducts of plants to its body to grow. Is this just one kind of slug, or is it a branch?

Thank you for any information you might have.
Molly

mew@tamu.edu

Hagan, M.E., 1999 (Dec 5) The solar-powered 'Ruffled Sea Slug' . [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1625

Dear Molly,
I guess the 'Ruffled Sea Slug' is Tridachia crispata, which is found in the Caribbean. It is quite similar in shape to species such as Elysia ornata to which it is closely related. Tridachia and Elysia are sacoglossans, a group of herbivorous sea slugs, which suck the cell contents from the algae they feed on. Some have developed the means to keep the photosynthetic plastids from the plant tissue alive in their bodies where they are able to photosynthesise and provide extra nutrients for the animal. There are a number of families of nudibranch sea slugs which do something similar, keeping whole one-celled plant alive in their bodies. Have a look at the page on Solar-powered sea slugs for further information, and be sure to look at the messages and answers below yours on this page.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

PS: Unfortunately I don't have a photo of Tridachia. If anyone out there can oblige I would be grateful.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Dec 5). Comment on The solar-powered 'Ruffled Sea Slug' by Molly E. Hagan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1625

Factsheet

Solar-powered sea slugs

Related messages

  1. Tank/Phototaxis/Energy/Experiments
    From: Mihir Pathak, October 8, 2008
  2. Solar-powered Sea Slugs - tertiary endosymbiosis?
    From: Sam Hsieh, October 28, 2002
  3. 'Solar-powered' sea slugs
    From: Caroline R. Cripe, September 4, 2001
  4. sea slugs - plants or animals?
    From: Tom Mackillop, March 23, 2001
  5. Elysia and chloroplast symbiosis
    From: Daniel Barshis , August 4, 2000
  6. Review of sacoglossan - plastid symbiosis
    From: Liz Summer, May 17, 2000
  7. Symbiosis among Phyllidia?
    From: Mark Schoenbeck, January 8, 2000
  8. Sea Slugs & symbiotic algae
    From: Jennifer Whittington, August 16, 1999
  9. Information on solar animals?
    From: Derek Carmona, March 10, 1999
  10. Solar-powered sacoglossans in Norway?
    From: Jussi Evertsen, March 9, 1999
  11. Photosynthetic Animals
    From: Michael Rhodin, December 16, 1998
  12. "Solar-powered" Sea Slugs
    From: Tammy, November 29, 1998
  13. Nudibranchs in Symbiosis with Zooxanthellae
    From: J.E. Austin, November 9, 1998
  14. Your "solar-powered" sea slugs.
    From: Amanda Lindsey, October 11, 1998
  15. Zooxanthellae in nudibranchs
    From: J.E.Austin, October 11, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages