''Aldisa smaragdina'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

sea slug Sea slug is a common name for some marine invertebrates with varying levels of resemblance to terrestrial slugs. Most creatures known as sea slugs are gastropods, i.e. they are sea snails (marine gastropod mollusks) that over evolutionary t ...

, a dorid

nudibranch Nudibranchs () are a group of soft-bodied marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms, and they have been given colourful nicknames to matc ...

, a

marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Cadlinidae Cadlinidae is a family of sea slugs, dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Doridoidea. Molecular phylogenetic studies and their taxon-sampling schemes can have a strong influence of the resulting phylogeny. Research by ...

.Bouchet, P. (2011). ''Aldisa smaragdina'' Ortea, Pérez & Llera, 1982. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=585313 on 2012-02-29

Distribution

This species was described from the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...

. It has subsequently been reported from the Atlantic coast of Spain and from Portugal.Rudman, W.B., 2002 (November 11
''Aldisa smaragdina'' Ortea, Perez & Llera, 1982.
n/nowiki> Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

Description

This species has raised rounded tubercles covering the dorsum. There are two round markings on the back which are darker in colour. The animal grows to 30 mm in length.

Ecology

This nudibranch feeds on the hymedesmiid sponge ''Phorbas fictitius'' ( aka ''Anchinoe fictitius''). The two darker round markings on the back of the animal closely resemble the inhalant pore sieves of ''Phorbas'', providing excellent camouflage. A progesterone homologue has been isolated from this species.Gavagnin, M.; Ungur, N.; Mollo, E.; Templado, J.; Cimino, G. Structure and synthesis of a progesterone homologue from the skin of the dorid nudibranch ''Aldisa smaragdina''. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2002, 2002, 1500–1504.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4713849 Cadlinidae Gastropods described in 1982