Hermissenda crassicornis

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Hermissenda crassicornis
A pair of Hermissenda crassicornis in a Central California tide pool
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Order: Opisthobranchia Suborder: Nudibranchia Superfamily: Aeolidioidea Family: Glaucidae Genus: Hermissenda Species: H. crassicornis
Binomial name
Hermissenda crassicornis Eschscholtz, 1831

Hermissenda crassicornis is a species of small, brightly-colored, sea slug or nudibranch, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Glaucidae.

This species does not really have a common name, but some people call it the "opalescent sea slug".

Contents 1 Distribution 2 Habitat 3 Description 4 Life habits 5 References 6 External links 7 Books 8 Gallery

[edit] Distribution

This nudibranch lives from Kodiak Island, Alaska, to Punta Eugenia, Mexico.

The species has also been observed in Bahia de los Angeles, Gulf of California, and in Japan^[1].

[edit] Habitat

It can be found in various habitats, including the intertidal zone of rocky shores but also in bays and estuaries.

[edit] Description

The species grows to be about 50 mm, or about 2 inches. The color of this nudibranch varies from place to place, but it is always easily recognizable by the orange stripe along the back.

[edit] Life habits

This nudibranch feeds on hydroids and other marine organisms such as ascidians and sea anemones. It sometimes attacks other nudibranchs, and will eat smaller specimens of its own species.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

1. ^ Hermissenda crassicornis. The Slugsite. Retrieved on 17 April 2006.

• Sea Slug Forum, species fact sheet:[1]

[edit] Books

• Behrens David W., 1980, ‘’Pacific Coast Nudibranchs: a guide to the opisthobranchs of the northeastern Pacific’’, Sea Challenger Books, California

[edit] Gallery