What is a Lettuce Nudibranch

October 30, 2000
From: Mike Dean

I have been reading on lettuce Nudi-branch. I cannot find the proper name.. Do you know what it might be. Supposedly they help control Hair Algae.
Mike

sdean2@prodigy.net

Dean, M., 2000 (Oct 30) What is a Lettuce Nudibranch. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3261

Dear Mike,
I guess the animal you are interested in is Elysia crispata which you'll also find in bools as Tridachia crispata. Have a look at the photos and information above your message. Also have a look at the messages and discussions below your message for some background information. It seems it may be possible to breed these animals in an aquaria, because they have relatively shortlived, non-feeding larvae.

One general point. This animal is not a nudibranch. Sea Slugs or Opisthobranchs are basically snails which have lost their shells, or are in the process of losing them. Bubble Shells (Cephalaspidea), Sea Hares (Anaspidea), sacoglossans (Sacoglossa) and nudibranchs (Nudibranchia), are all different types (Orders) of Sea Slugs. If go to the Species List (click on button in blue bar at the top of the page) and have a look at a few animals from these different Orders you will get an idea of their diversity.

Elysia crispata is a sacoglossan. Sacoglossans are interesting because some of them, like , still have a fragile shell and still look like a snail, while others, such as Elysia crispata, have lost it, and look like a nudibranch. All sacoglossans are herbivores, and feed by sucking the cell sap out of the algae they feed on.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Oct 30). Comment on What is a Lettuce Nudibranch by Mike Dean. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3261

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