Facelina auriculata
(Müller, 1776)

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Glaucidae

DISTRIBUTION

Mediterranean and east Atlantic north to Norway.

PHOTO

Banyuls sur Mer, Mediterranean coast, France. 1992. Two animals showing how change of food colour (in ceratal digestive gland) can change appearance. PHOTOS: Daniel L. Geiger.

Reference:
• Müller, O.F. (1776). Zoologiae Danicae. Prodromus seu animalium Daniae et Norvegiae ingenarum characteres, nomina et synonyma impris popularium: p. I-XXXII, 1-282

NOTE: Facelina coronata (Forbes & Goodsir, 1839) is a synonym of Facelina auriculata. See Bernard Picton's message. Until 30 August 2001 the name F. coronata was used on the Forum.

Characterised by the lamellate rhinophores and the first ceratal cluster being well separated from the rest of the cerata. The red oesophagus, is usually visible through the body wall, just behind the rhinophores [it can be seen clearly in Frank Gloystein's lower photo]. It is quite variable in colour but there is often a bluish sheen on the head and the cerata, and a whitish streak on the upper half of the rhinophores and the tips of the oral tentacles. Grows to about 50 mm and feeds on variety of hydroids.

Note added 15 May 2009: See Greg Brown's message [#22494] with photos comparing F. auriculata with F. bostoniensis.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (June 5) Facelina auriculata (Müller, 1776). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/faceauri

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