Elysia subornata

Taxobox
name = "Elysia subornata"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Opisthobranchia
subordo = Sacoglossa
familia = Elysiidae
genus = "Elysia"
species = "E. subornata"
binomial = "Elysia subornata"
binomial_authority = (Verrill, 1901)

"Elysia subornata" is a small species of sea slug, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Elysiidae.

This sea slug resembles a nudibranch, but it is not closely related to that order of gastropods, instead it is a sacoglossan.

Distribution

This species is found in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea.

Possible use as a biological control agent

It has been proposed that "Elysia subornata" could be used as a 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", inquestering the secondary metabolite, Caulerpenyne, for its own defense.

External links

* [http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=elyssubo The Sea Slug Forum] - "Elysia subornata"