Felimare lajensis is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

Felimare lajensis
The nudibranch Felimare lajensis, feeding on a sponge, Cabo Frio, Brazil.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Felimare
Species:
F. lajensis
Binomial name
Felimare lajensis
(Troncoso, Garcia & Urgorri, 1998)[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Hypselodoris lajensis Troncoso, Garcia & Urgorri, 1998
  • Hypselodoris picta lajensis Troncoso, Garcia & Urgorri, 1998

Distribution

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This nudibranch is found in Brazil.[3]

Description

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Felimare lajensis is dark blue in colour with a series of yellow longitudinal lines. The edge of the mantle is white and there is a series of darker blue spots on a blue background between the border and the first of the yellow lines. The rhinophores are entirely blue and the gills are also blue with very dark blue rachises. The maximum recorded body length is 30 mm.[4]

Habitat

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Minimum recorded depth is 7.3 m.[4] Maximum recorded depth is 25 m.[4]

Feeding habits

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This species feeds on a blue species of sponge, Dysidea etheria.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Troncoso, J. S., F. J. Garcia, & V. Urgorri. (1998). Anatomical data on a rare Hypselodoris picta (Schultz, 1836) (Gastropoda, Doridacea) from the coast of Brazil with description of a new subspecies. Bulletin of Marine Science 63(1): 133-141.
  2. ^ Bouchet, P. (2012). Felimare lajensis (Troncoso, Garcia & Urgorri, 1998). In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=597827 on 2017-12-15
  3. ^ Magenta-da-Cunha, C., 2000 (June 11) Hypselodoris picta lajensis Troncoso, Garcia & Urgorri, 1998. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  4. ^ a b c Welch J. J. (2010). "The “Island Rule” and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.
  5. ^ Belmonte T., Alvim J., Padula V. & Muricy G. (2015). "Spongivory by nudibranchs on the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil". Spixiana 38(2): 187–195. PDF.