Elysia leucolegnote
Jensen, 1990

Order: SACOGLOSSA
Superfamily: ELYSIOIDEA
Family: Elysiidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known only from Hong Kong

PHOTO

Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Depth: 20cm. Length: approx 4cm. Photo: Ken Ching

The animal is very dark green with a white edge to the parapodia and a white triangular patch on the head which extends along the dorsal side of the rhinophores. The rhinophores lack branches of the digestive gland so are translucent clear rather than the green of the rest of the body. Jensen (1990) notes that this is a large species growing to at least 3cm long. Its parapodia are usually held open 'so the animal resembles a mangrove leaf'. The rhinophores are long, slender and grooved, rather than auriculate. The sole of the foot is divided anteriorly by a transverse groove. Jensen (1990) reports that it feeds on the filamentous green algae Boodleopsis pusilla, which forms a fine mat over the mud in small puddles in the mangrove swamp. One egg mass was produced in captivity. It was unusual for a sacoglossan, being a 5cm long string rather than the usual coil.

References:
• Jensen, K.R. (1990) Three new species of Ascoglossa (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia) from Hong Kong, and a description of the internal anatomy of Costasiella pallida Jensen, 1985. [In:] Proceedings of the 2nd International Marine Biological Workshop: The marine Flora and Fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China, Hong Kong, 1986. (Ed: Morton,B) Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong, 419-432.
• Jensen, K.R. (1990) Feeding Behaviour of some Hong Kong Ascoglossa (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia). [In:] Proceedings of the Second International Marine biological workshop: The marine Flora and Fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China, Hong Kong, 1986. (Ed: Morton,B) Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong, 961-978.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2003 (July 2) Elysia leucolegnote Jensen, 1990. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/elysleuc

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