Trapania pallida

Trapania pallida is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.[2]

Trapania pallida
The nudibranch Trapania pallida, Connemara, Ireland
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Euctenidiacea
clade Doridacea
Superfamily:
Onchidoridoidea
Family:
Goniodorididae
Genus:
Trapania
Species:
T. pallida
Binomial name
Trapania pallida
Kress, 1968[1]

Distribution

This species was first described from Plymouth, England and it is found as far north as western Scotland.[3] It has subsequently been reported from Atlantic coasts as far south as Portugal and in the Mediterranean Sea as far east as Cagnes-sur-Mer.[4]

Description

This goniodorid nudibranch is translucent white in colour, with white markings. The rhinophores, gills and processes are covered with white pigment. There is a white stripe along the tail, starting somewhere behind the gills and running to the tip. In Mediterranean specimens there is more white, with some markings on the sides of the body.

Ecology

Trapania pallida feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on sponges and other living substrata.

References
  1. Kress, A. (1968). Trapania pallida sp. nov. (Opisthobranchia, Gastropoda), a genus new to Britain. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London 38: 161-165.
  2. Gofas, S. (2015). Trapania pallida. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-10-19
  3. Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2015). Trapania pallida Kress, 1968. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. Accessed on 2015-10-19
  4. Rudman, W.B., 2001 (February 8) Trapania pallida Kress, 1968. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
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