''Bornella'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
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 ...
s, specifically
dendronotid nudibranchs in the family
Bornellidae.
There has not been much research on this genus. Their biology is mostly unknown, except that they seem to feed exclusively on
hydroids.
Distribution
These nudibranchs occur in the
Indo-West Pacific. In addition there is one species in the tropical eastern Pacific, and one species in the western Atlantic.
Description
Their body is covered with cerata-like dorsal and lateral outgrowths, with finger-like branches. They have an attached cluster of
gill
A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...
s. Their rounded head shows on each side of the mouth a
tentacle
In zoology, a tentacle is a flexible, mobile, and elongated organ present in some species of animals, most of them invertebrates. In animal anatomy, tentacles usually occur in one or more pairs. Anatomically, the tentacles of animals work main ...
, with tiny finger-like papillae. The sheath of the
rhinophore stands high and resembles the dorsal processes. Feeds on hydroids.
The various species differ in their color pattern and their number of dorsal and lateral outgrowths and the number of branches on their rhinophore sheath.
Anatomy
These nudibranchs are characterized by an unpaired oral
gland
In animals, a gland is a group of cells in an animal's body that synthesizes substances (such as hormones) for release into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland).
Structure
De ...
.
In their
genital system
The reproductive system of an organism, also known as the genital system, is the biological system made up of all the anatomical sex organs, organs involved in sexual reproduction. Many non-living substances such as fluids, hormones, and pherom ...
, the male duct is separate from the female duct.
Species
Species within this genus include:
[Bouchet, P. (2015)]
''Bornella'' Gray, 1850.
In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-02-10.
* ''
Bornella anguilla
''Bornella anguilla'' is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Bornellidae.
This species is widely distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific.
This species
In biology, a s ...
''
Johnson, 1984
* ''
Bornella calcarata
''Bornella'' is a genus of sea slugs, specifically dendronotid nudibranchs in the family Bornellidae.
There has not been much research on this genus. Their biology is mostly unknown, except that they seem to feed exclusively on hydroids.
Distr ...
''
Mörch, 1863
* ''
Bornella dotoides
''Bornella'' is a genus of sea slugs, specifically dendronotid nudibranchs in the family Bornellidae.
There has not been much research on this genus. Their biology is mostly unknown, except that they seem to feed exclusively on hydroids.
Distr ...
''
Pola, Rudman & Gosliner, 2009
* ''
Bornella excepta
''Bornella'' is a genus of sea slugs, specifically dendronotid nudibranchs in the family Bornellidae.
There has not been much research on this genus. Their biology is mostly unknown, except that they seem to feed exclusively on hydroids.
Di ...
''
Bergh, 1884
* ''
Bornella hermanni
''Bornella'' is a genus of sea slugs, specifically dendronotid nudibranchs in the family Bornellidae.
There has not been much research on this genus. Their biology is mostly unknown, except that they seem to feed exclusively on hydroids.
Di ...
''
Angas, 1864 (synonym : ''Bornella. japonica''
Baba, 1949 )
* ''
Bornella irvingi
''Bornella irvingi'' is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Bornellidae.Bouchet, P. (2015)Bornella irvingi Edmunds & Preece, 1996.In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of ...
''
Edmunds and Preece, 1996
* ''
Bornella johnsonorum''
Pola, Rudman & Gosliner, 2009
* ''
Bornella pele''
Pola, Rudman & Gosliner, 2009
* ''
Bornella sarape
''Bornella'' is a genus of sea slugs, specifically dendronotid nudibranchs in the family Bornellidae.
There has not been much research on this genus. Their biology is mostly unknown, except that they seem to feed exclusively on hydroids.
Distr ...
''
Bertsch, 1980.
* ''
Bornella simplex
''Bornella'' is a genus of sea slugs, specifically dendronotid nudibranchs in the family Bornellidae.
There has not been much research on this genus. Their biology is mostly unknown, except that they seem to feed exclusively on hydroids.
Distr ...
''
Eliot, 1904
* ''
Bornella stellifer
''Bornella stellifer'' is a species of colorful sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Bornellidae.
References
*Pola, M., Rudman, W. B. & Gosliner, T. M. (2009). "Systematics and preliminary phylogeny of Bornellidae ...
''
(Adams and Reeve in Adams, 1848) (synonyms : ''Bornella hancockana''
Kelaart, 1859 , ''Bornella arborescens''
Pease, 1871 , ''Bornella caledonica''
Crosse, 1875 , ''Bornella marmorata''
Collingwood, 1881 )
* ''
Bornella valdae''
Pola, Rudman & Gosliner, 2009
Invalid species names include:
* ''B. semperi'' Crosse 1875 (nomen nudum)
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3642687
Gastropod genera
Bornellidae
Taxa named by John Edward Gray