A sea slug (Embletonia pulchra)

Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help

Summary

Description

Embletonia pulchra is a minute sea slug (max. length 6 mm), often unrecorded because of its small size. The body is smooth and much longer than it is wide with up to six pairs of unbranched cerata which get larger posteriorly. There are two small eyespots about halfway between the rhinophores and the first pair of cerata. The rhinophores are short and widely spaced, appearing almost lateral when the animal is viewed from above. Just in front of the rhinophores are two oral flaps. There are no oral tentacles.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Recorded from a few locations around Britain and Ireland but is probably under-recorded due to its small size.

Global distribution

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Habitat

Found intertidally and in the shallow sublittoral on a variety of hydroids. Has also been recorded interstitially in coarse sand and gravel.

Depth range

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Identifying features

  • Up to six pairs of unbranched cerata on dorsal surface.
  • Digestive glands within cerata orange-brown.
  • Frontal margin of head bilobed into oral flaps.
  • Rhinophores smooth and widely spaced.
  • Body translucent white.

Additional information

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Listed by

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Further information sources

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Bibliography

  1. Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]

  2. Picton, B.E. & Costello, M.J., 1998. BioMar biotope viewer: a guide to marine habitats, fauna and flora of Britain and Ireland. [CD-ROM] Environmental Sciences Unit, Trinity College, Dublin.

  3. Picton, B.E., 2000. Nudibranchs of the British Isles. http://www.pictonb.freeserve.co.uk/nudibranchs/index.html, 2003-09-11

  4. Thompson, T. E. & Brown, G. H., 1976. British Opisthobranch Molluscs. London: Academic Press. [Synopses of the British Fauna, no. 8.]

Datasets

  1. Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland, 2023. Mollusc (marine) records for Great Britain and Ireland. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/aurwcz accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-27.

  2. Manx Biological Recording Partnership, 2022. Isle of Man historical wildlife records 1990 to 1994. Occurrence dataset:https://doi.org/10.15468/aru16v accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-27.

  3. NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.

  4. OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System),  2024. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2024-11-22

Citation

This review can be cited as:

Neal, K.J. 2004. Embletonia pulchra A sea slug. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 22-11-2024]. Available from: https://marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/2060

Last Updated: 14/06/2004