Ercolania endophytophaga K. R. Jensen, 1999
- Location
- Caban cove, Anilao, Philippines
- Date
- 2018/02/06
- Length
- 10mm
- Depth
- 12.0m
- Water temperature
- 27.0℃
Description
A small limapontiid sacoglossan, 2–5 mm in body length. The epidermis is transparent, but the body appears dark green because of the contents of the digestive gland. White dots mark the tips of the cerata, sometimes forming a subterminal band, and a white triangular patch sits on the pericardium. The cerata are arranged in a single longitudinal row on either side, with 3–4 long, slender, pointed ones and 3–5 shorter ones per side. The rhinophores are flattened and the anterior end of the foot is spatulate.Distribution
Type locality is The Basin, Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Additional records come from the Great Barrier Reef and the Philippines (Anilao).Etymology
The specific epithet endophytophaga combines the Greek endo- (inside), phyto- (plant) and -phaga (eater), and refers to the habit of eating the cytoplasm of Struvea plumosa and Valonia sp. from inside the algal cells.Remarks
The slug rasps a circular opening in the wall of a multinucleate, tubular green-algal cell, inserts its head and consumes the cytoplasm from within. Egg masses are deposited inside the emptied algal cells. The penis bears a short, pointed cuticular stylet.References
A Kindle field guide by the site author
Kimoto N. (2026). Sea Slugs of Japan & the Indo-Pacific, 2nd Edition.
Kindle Edition
View on Amazon PR (Amazon Associates)Seasonality
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Photos of Ercolania endophytophaga
Tag:
Same Genus Nudibranchs
Similar Colors Nudibranchs
Academic Database
Sea slug observation data is available in international marine biodiversity databases.