Berthella plumula

Berthella plumula, commonly known as yellow-plumed sea slug, is a gastropod mollusc usually found on rocky coasts in the infralittoral zone[1] and which can live up to 30m depth.[2]

Berthella plumula
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Pleurobranchida
Family:
Pleurobranchidae
Genus:
Berthella
Species:
B. plumula
Binomial name
Berthella plumula
Synonyms
  • Bulla plumula (Montagu, 1803)
  • Berthella porosa (Blainville, 1824)
  • Cleanthus montagui (Leach, 1847)
  • Lamellaria kleciachi (Brusina, 1866)
  • Pleurobranchus brevifrons (Philippi, 1844)
  • Pleurobranchus fleuriausi (d'Orbigny, 1837)
  • Pleurobranchus perforatus (Philippi, 1844)
  • Sigaretus stomatellus (Risso, 1826)

Description

Berthella plumula is an oval-shaped sea slug with an internal shell, which can be up to 30mm long. The body is up to 60mm and has a cream to orange colour and often displays reticulate markings. The head is flat and a large oral veil lies between the propodium and the mantle. The rhinophores are protruding and enrolled.[2] The species has acid glands in the skin which secrete sulphuric acid for protection in case of danger.[3]

Distribution

The yellow-plumed sea slug is found in the north-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, the English Channel and the North Sea.[4]

Behavior

Diet

Berthella plumula is a slow moving predator which scrapes its radula on rocks to feed on colonial ascidians of the genus Botryllus as well as on Oscarella sponges.[1][2]

Reproduction

The species is hermaphrodite and the two individuals reciprocally fecundate each other by exchanging their sperm. The reproductive period occurs in spring. The laying is tube-shaped and the eggs are displayed in spiral.[4]

Similar species

Berthella plumula can be mistaken with Berthella stellata, which is smaller and displaying a small white mark on its back, and Bertellina edwardsi, which is usually bigger and more red.[4]

References
  1. Hayward, Peter; Nelson-Smith, Tony; Shields, Chris (2014). Guide des bords de mer : Mer du Nord, Manche, Atlantique, Méditerranée. Delachaux et Niestlé. ISBN 9782603020029. OCLC 882238836.
  2. Hayward, Peter J.; Ryland, John S., eds. (2017-02-02). "Handbook of the Marine Fauna of North-West Europe". doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199549443.001.0001. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "MarLIN - The Marine Life Information Network - Yellow-plumed sea slug (Berthella plumula)". www.marlin.ac.uk. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
  4. "Berthella plumula | DORIS". doris.ffessm.fr. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
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