Elysia subornata grows to a length of about 5 centimetres (2.0 in). It is variable in colour, being found in shades of green, olive and beige, sometimes with a reddish tinge. It has broad parapodia (fleshy protrusions at the side) with thick white margins sometimes edged in brown or black. The parapodia are covered in tiny papillae (fleshy protuberances) and the rhinophores (sensory organs on the head) are also papillose.[1]
Distributionedit
This species is found in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea.
Human usesedit
It has been proposed that Elysia subornata could be used as a biological control agent against an invasive strain of the algaCaulerpa taxifolia in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. The high toxicity levels of that alga discourage most of the native herbivorous fauna from consuming it. Elysia subornata, however, preferentially feeds on Caulerpa taxifolia, using the secondary metabolite, Caulerpenyne, for its own defence. It doesn't survive the cool temperature of winter Mediterranean waters, and would therefore need to be raised on a large scale to have any significant effect. Either that; or a hybrid would have to be genetically engineered using DNA from E. timida and/or E. viridis.
Referencesedit
^Elysia subornata The Sea Slug Forum. Retrieved 2012-01-22.
This Plakobranchidae-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
elysia, subornata, species, small, slug, marine, opisthobranch, gastropod, mollusk, family, plakobranchidae, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia, phylum, mollusca, class, gastropoda, subclass, heterobranchia, family, plakobranchida. Elysia subornata is a species of small sea slug a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Plakobranchidae Elysia subornata Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Mollusca Class Gastropoda Subclass Heterobranchia Family Plakobranchidae Genus Elysia Species E subornata Binomial name Elysia subornata Verrill 1901 This sea slug resembles a nudibranch but it is not closely related to that order of gastropods Instead it is a sacoglossan Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Human uses 4 ReferencesDescription editElysia subornata grows to a length of about 5 centimetres 2 0 in It is variable in colour being found in shades of green olive and beige sometimes with a reddish tinge It has broad parapodia fleshy protrusions at the side with thick white margins sometimes edged in brown or black The parapodia are covered in tiny papillae fleshy protuberances and the rhinophores sensory organs on the head are also papillose 1 Distribution editThis species is found in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean including the Caribbean Sea Human uses editIt has been proposed that Elysia subornata could be used as a biological control agent against an invasive strain of the alga Caulerpa taxifolia in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea The high toxicity levels of that alga discourage most of the native herbivorous fauna from consuming it Elysia subornata however preferentially feeds on Caulerpa taxifolia using the secondary metabolite Caulerpenyne for its own defence It doesn t survive the cool temperature of winter Mediterranean waters and would therefore need to be raised on a large scale to have any significant effect Either that or a hybrid would have to be genetically engineered using DNA from E timida and or E viridis References edit Elysia subornata The Sea Slug Forum Retrieved 2012 01 22 This Plakobranchidae related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elysia subornata amp oldid 1114930364, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
