Flabellina affinis explained
Flabellina affinis is a species of sea slug within the clade of aeolid nudibranch; a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Flabellinidae.[1]
Distribution
This species is found in depths to 50 m in European waters in the Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to Ghana and the Canaries and is widespread in the Mediterranean Sea.[2]
Notes and References
- Gofas, S. (2015). JneFlabellina affinis (Gmelin, 1791). In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-10-25
- Rudman, W.B., 1999 (July 6) Flabellina affinis (Gmelin, 1791). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
Description
The species can grow to a length of 50 mm. It feeds primarily on species of Eudendrium, a very common hydroid genus in the Mediterranean Sea.
Flabellina affinis is often confused with Paraflabellina ischitana, but can be distinguished as follows:
- Flabellina affinis: the outer part of the digestive gland in each ceras is not visible as the area beneath the subapical white ring is opaque violet in colour.
- Paraflabellina ischitana: the ceratal surface has no purple-violet colouration and is translucent.
External links
