Chelidonura varians

Chelidonura varians
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Cephalaspidea
Family: Aglajidae
Genus: Chelidonura
Species:
C. varians
Binomial name
Chelidonura varians
Eliot, 1903

Chelidonura varians is a species of small sea slug, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusc in the order Cephalaspidea, the headshield slugs.[1]

Description & habitat

This species has a maximum size of 70 mm.[2] The background color is deep black. The margin of the parapods and body are marked with a thin electric blue line. The two rather long "tails" at the end of the animal are characteristic of the genus Chelidonura, the left one is always longer. They have also well-developed sensory cilia on the anterior edge of the head which are used to find their prey.[2][3]

This species lives on reef areas in shallow water lagoons with sandy or muddy bottom until 30 m depth.[4]

Distribution

This cephalaspidean is widespread in the tropical waters of the Indo-west Pacific region.[3]

Diet

Chelidonura varians feeds on flatworms and it is used in aquariums to eradicate small flat worm invasions.[5]

References

  1. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Chelidonura varians Eliot, 1903". www.marinespecies.org.
  2. ^ a b "Les nudibranches de l'Ile de la Réunion (océan Indien)". seaslugs.free.fr.
  3. ^ a b "The Sea Slug Forum - Chelidonura varians". 15 July 2010.
  4. ^ "Chelidonura varians | DORIS". doris.ffessm.fr.
  5. ^ "Blue Velvet Nudibranch: Saltwater Invertebrates for Marine Reef Aquariums". www.liveaquaria.com.


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