Aegires sublaevis explained

Aegires sublaevis is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine, opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Aegiridae.^[1]

Distribution

This species was described from Puerto de Orotavo, Tenerife, Canary Islands. It has been reported from the Azores, Portugal, Spain and the Mediterranean Sea as well as the more distant localities of Panama and the Galapagos Islands.^[2] However a study of Caribbean specimens showed that there were several similar species in that area.^[3]

Ecology

Aegires sublaevis has been reported to feed on the calcareous sponge Clathrina clathrus, on which it is camouflaged by its yellow ground colour and brown spots which mimic the oscules of the sponge.^{[4] [5]}

Notes and References

1. Gofas, S. (2004). Aegires sublaevis Odhner, 1932. In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2017-04-25.
2. Fahey S. J. & Gosliner T. M. (2004). A Phylogenetic Analysis of the Aegiridae Fischer, 1883 (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Phanerobranchia) with Descriptions of Eight New Species and a Reassessment of Phanerobranch Relationships. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 55(34): 613-689.
3. Ortea J., Moro L. & Espinosa J. (2015). Estudio de un grupo de especies caribeñas enmascaradas en el nombre Aegires sublaevis Odhner, 1932 (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) utilizando técnicas tradicionales. Revista de la Academia Canaria de Ciencias. 27: 243-258. page 253, pl. 5
4. Moro, L.; Bacallado, L.; Ortea, J. A. (2010). Babosas marinas de las islas Canarias. Biodiversidad: explorando la red vital de la que formamos parte Actas VI Semana Científica Telesforo Bravo Instituto de Estudios Hispánicos de Canarias.
5. Rudman, W.B., 2005 (July 8) Aegires sublaevis Odhner, 1932. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

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