Elysia cf. furvacauda

Order: SACOGLOSSA
Superfamily: ELYSIOIDEA
Family: Elysiidae

DISTRIBUTION

Recorded in New South Wales, eastern Australia.

PHOTO

Quibray Bay, Botany Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, May 1980. (from material studied by Brian Brandley).
PHOTO: Bill Rudman.

RELATED TOPIC

Solar-powered Sea Slugs

This sacoglossan was the subject of an extremely interesting study by Brian Brandley (University of Sydney). He showed that this species obtains plastids from the algae it feeds on, and keeps them alive in its body, where they continue to photosynthesise and provide sugars for the slug. Of even greater interest was his discovery that the slug changed diet at least three times during its annual life history and was able to use the plastids from each of the algae it fed on.

Reference:
• Brandley, B., 1984. Aspects of the ecology and physiology of Elysia cf. furvacauda (Mollusca: Sacoglossa). Bulletin of Marine Science, 34: 201-219.

This species has similarities to Elysia furvacauda Burn, 1958, from Victoria in south-eastern Australia, but is considered distinct until a fuller comparison can be made.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (February 19) Elysia cf. furvacauda [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/elyscffurv

Related messages

  1. Elysia cf. furvacauda from sthn Queensland
    From: Gary Cobb, July 15, 2008
  2. Re: Elysia cf. furvacauda page
    From: Cynthia Trowbridge, April 8, 2000
  3. Elysia cf. furvacauda page
    From: Brian Brandley, February 19, 1999

Show factsheet and all related messages