Felimare ruthae explained

Felimare ruthae is a colourful species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Distribution

This nudibranch is known from the Caribbean. and the Gulf of Mexico.^[4]

Description

Felimare ruthae has a blue-black body with a yellow-lined mantle and yellow longitudinal lines and bright-blue striations on its dorsum. The gills are typically translucent outlined with black and the rhinophores are black with a yellow-white line running vertically.^{[5] [6]}

This species can reach a total length of at least 25 mm and has been observed feeding on the sponge Dysidea etheria.^[2]

Habitat

Minimum recorded depth is and maximum recorded depth is .^[7]

Notes and References

1. Bouchet, P. (2012). Felimare ruthae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at on 2012-05-14
2. Rudman, W.B., 2005 (October 20) Hypselodoris ruthae Marcus & Hughes, 1974. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
3. Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012) Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33479
4. Rosenberg, G., F. Moretzsohn, and E. F. García. 2009. Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579–699 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas.
5. Ortea, J., Valdés, Á. & García-Gómez, J.C. (1996). Revisión de las especies atlánticas de la familia Chromodorididae (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) del grupo cromático azul. Avicennia suplemento 1: 1-165 page(s): 93.
6. Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. page(s): 113
7. Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. .