Risbecia nyalya explained

Risbecia nyalya is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.^[1]

Distribution

This nudibranch is found in the Caribbean.

Description

Risbecia nyalya has a blue or purple body with a white and orange-yellow lined mantle. The gills and rhinophores are purple or blue.

The maximum recorded length is 35 mm.^[2]

Habitat

Minimum recorded depth is 2 m.^[2] Maximum recorded depth is 7 m.^[2]

It feeds on sponges.^[3]

Further reading

• Ortea, J., Valdes, A. & Garcia-Gomez, J.C. (1996) Review of the Atlantic species of the Family Chromodorididae (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) of the blue chromatic group. Avicennia (Suppl. 1): 1-160.
• 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

Notes and References

1. Caballer, M. (2011). Risbecia nyalya (Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1967). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=420594 on 2011-03-03
2. Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. .
3. Web site: The Sea Slug Forum - Hypselodoris nyalya. 9 June 2010.