Caloria elegans explained

Caloria elegans is a species of colorful sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.

Taxonomy

Facelina quatrefagesi was considered as a synonym of Caloria elegans, but it is morphologically very similar and different valid species.^[1]

Description

The size of the body varies between 20 mm and 35 mm.

Distribution

This marine species occurs in European waters from the British Isles to the Mediterranean Sea; also off the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira.

References

• Alder J. & Hancock A., 1845: Notice of a new genus and several new species of nudibranchiate Mollusca; Annals and Magazine of Natural History 16: 311-316
• Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels. 50: pp. 180–213.

Notes and References

1. Furfaro G., Mariottini P., Modica M. V., Trainito E., Doneddu M. & Oliverio M. (2016). "Sympatric sibling species: the case of Caloria elegans and Facelina quatrefagesi (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia)". Sci. Mar. 80(4): 511-520. .