Thuridilla gracilis is a species of sea slug, a sacoglossan, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Plakobranchidae. It is an Indo-Pacific species that lives in or near coral reefs and eats algae.
| Thuridilla gracilis | |
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-APiazza.JPG)
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Family: | Plakobranchidae |
| Genus: | Thuridilla |
| Species: | T. gracilis
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| Binomial name | |
| Thuridilla gracilis (Risbec, 1928)
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Distribution and habitat
editThis species occurs in the Tropical Indo/West-Pacific. It lives on the external slope of coral reefs, on top of the reef and in the lagoon, usually in shallow water.
Description
editThis species can be up to 25 mm in size. The body is partially covered by the fold of the lateral parapodia. The mantle is black and crossed by multiple fine white longitudinal lines (eight to ten) punctuated sometimes with blue spots. The border of the lapel of the parapodia and rhinophores is often orange. The smooth rhinophores can be whitish without any lines.
Biology
editThis species is benthic and diurnal. Because of its aposematic coloration, it crawls around to feed in the daylight. It has a diet based on algae.
References
edit- P.L. Beesley, G.J.B. Ross & A. Wells,"Mollusca-The southern synthesis", vol. 5, CSIRO, 1998, ISBN 0-643-05756-0
- David Behrens, "Nudibranch behaviour", Newworld Publication INC., 2005, ISBN 978-1878348418
- Gary Cobb & Richard Willan, "Undersea jewels- a colour guide to nudibranchs", Australian Biological Resources Study, 2006, ISBN 0642568472
External links
edit- Sea Slug Forum, info on Thuridilla gracilis
- WoRMS info on Thuridilla gracilis
- Photos of Thuridilla gracilis on Sealife Collection