''Cerberilla mosslandica'' 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 ...
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 ...
, an aeolid
nudibranch, 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
* ...
heterobranch mollusc
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 esti ...
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 ...
Aeolidiidae
Aeolidiidae, a family of aeolid nudibranchs, are a family of sea slugs, shell-less marine gastropod molluscs.Bouchet, P. (2014)''Aeolidiidae'' Gray, 1827.Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2014-10-24
Most, or perhaps all, mem ...
.
[Gofas, S. (2015)]
''Cerberilla mosslandica''.
In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-11-09
Distribution
This species was described from
Monterey Bay,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. It has been reported from near Duncan,
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are o ...
,
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
. A specimen from
St Peter the Great Bay,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
had more white pigment and lines on the cerata and may be a different species.
[Rudman, W.B., 2007 (February 22]
''Cerberilla mosslandica'' McDonald & Nybakken, 1975.
n/nowiki> Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
Description
All ''Cerberilla'' species have a broad foot and the cerata are numerous, arranged in transverse rows across the body. In this species the body is mostly translucent white with a pinkish hue on the head. The digestive gland is darker pink. The tips of the rhinophores and cerata are covered with opaque white pigment and there are white pigment spots on the outer part of the oral tentacles.
[ This species has short oral tentacles and large rhinophores for a ''Cerberilla'' and may be a species of '']Aeolidiella
''Aeolidiella'' is a genus of sea slugs, aeolid nudibranchs, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Aeolidiidae.Gofas, S. (2015)''Aeolidiella'' Bergh, 1867.In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-11-12 ...
''.
Ecology
Species of ''Cerberilla'' live on and in sandy substrates where they burrow beneath the surface and feed on burrowing sea anemones.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5070689
Aeolidiidae
Gastropods described in 1975