Trapania maculata
Species of gastropod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Trapania maculata is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.[2]
| Trapania maculata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Two Trapania maculata initiating copulation | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Family: | Goniodorididae |
| Genus: | Trapania |
| Species: | T. maculata |
| Binomial name | |
| Trapania maculata Haefelfinger, 1960[1] | |
Distribution
This species was first described from Villefranche-sur-Mer in the Mediterranean Sea. It is found from the Aegean Sea coast of Turkey to the Strait of Gibraltar.[3] It has subsequently been reported from Atlantic coasts as far north as SW England and Wales, United Kingdom.[4]
Description
This goniodorid nudibranch is translucent white in colour, with yellow markings. The rhinophores, gills and processes are covered with yellow pigment and there is a triangular patch of yellow in the middle of the back. There is a broad yellow stripe along the tail, from behind the gills to the tip. In Mediterranean specimens there is more yellow, with patches on the head and sides of the body.[3]
Ecology
Trapania maculata feeds on Entoprocta of the genus Loxosomella which often grow on the sponges Dysidea and Sarcotragus.[5]