Berghia coerulescens

Berghia coerulescens is a species of sea slug, a marine nudibranch in the family Aeolidiidae.[1] It is the type species[2] of the genus Berghia.

Berghia coerulescens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Dexiarchia
clade Cladobranchia
clade Aeolidida
Superfamily:
Aeolidioidea
Family:
Aeolidiidae
Genus:
Berghia
Species:
B. coerulescens
Binomial name
Berghia coerulescens
(Laurillard, 1830)
Synonyms[1]

Spurilla caerulescens (sic)
Eolidia coerulescens
Berghia modesta

Error in name:
Berghia caerulescens (sic)

Distribution

Originally described from the French Mediterranean coast, this species is also known from different localities along the central and western Mediterranean (including the Adriatic Sea). It also occurs in the Atlantic Ocean, from the Brittany coasts to the Canary Islands. The geographic distribution of this species has been controversial. Some specimens of Berghia marcusi and Berghia stephanieae from the western Atlantic, as well as Berghia verrucicornis and Berghia columbina from the eastern Atlantic were grouped under the colour variability of Berghia coerulescens. It is now known that the distribution of Berghia coerulescens is restricted to the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea.[2]

Description

This species can grow to a maximum length between 40 and 70 mm.[3]

In the aquarium

Although some references[3][4] state that Berghia coerulescens and other members of Berghia will feed on Aiptasia sp. (sea anemones that are usually considered pests in the marine aquarium hobby), the species most mentioned in Internet forums and articles for the control of Aiptasia anemones is now known to be Berghia stephanieae.

References
  1. Gofas, S. (2010). Berghia coerulescens (Laurillard, 1830). In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2011-03-10
  2. Carmona L., Pola M., Gosliner T.M. & Cervera J.L. (2014). The Atlantic-Mediterranean genus Berghia Trinchese, 1877 (Nudibranchia: Aeolidiidae): taxonomic review and phylogenetic analysis. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 80(5): 482-498.
  3. Rudman, W.B., 2003 (October 10) Berghia coerulescens (Laurillard, 1830). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  4. Ways to Eliminate Aiptasia Anemones (page 2) Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine in About.com
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