Okenia aspersa
Species of gastropod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Okenia aspersa is a species of sea slug, a Dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.[2]
| Okenia aspersa | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Family: | Goniodorididae |
| Genus: | Okenia |
| Species: | O. aspersa |
| Binomial name | |
| Okenia aspersa | |
| Synonyms | |
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Distribution
This species was first described from Cullercoats, North Sea. It has subsequently been reported widely in Britain and Ireland and north to Norway and south to Arcachon Bay, France.[3]
Description
This goniodorid nudibranch is translucent white in colour, with spots and blotches of red-brown and cream It shows marbling over the body, on the pallial tentacles, rhinophores and gills.[4]
Ecology
Okenia aspersa feeds on the tunicate Molgula occulta, family Molgulidae which lives buried in muddy sand seabeds.[5]