Melibe

Melibe is a genus of sea slugs, nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Tethydidae.[3]

Melibe
Melibe viridis, anterior end at the front with the large rounded oral hood
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Dexiarchia
clade Cladobranchia
clade Dendronotida
Superfamily:
Tritonioidea
Family:
Tethydidae
Genus:
Melibe

Rang, 1829[1]
Diversity[2]
16 valid species and 3 doubtful species
Synonyms[2]
  • Chiroraera Gould, 1852
  • Jacunia Filippi, 1867
  • Melibaea Angas, 1864
  • Meliboea Kelaart, 1858
  • Propomelibe Allan, 1932

Most nudibranchs are carnivores, but their prey is usually sessile or slow-moving animals such as sponges or bryozoans. In contrast, Melibe is an active predator which traps fast-moving free-swimming animals such as small crustaceans, using its extendable oral hood.

Melibe leonina

Species

Species within the genus Melibe include 17 valid species and 3 doubtful species:[3]

  • Melibe arianeae Espinoza, DuPont & Valdés, 2013
  • Melibe australis Angas, 1864[2]
  • Melibe bucephala Bergh, 1902[2]
  • Melibe colemani Gosliner & Pola, 2012
  • Melibe coralophilia Gosliner & Pola, 2012
  • Melibe digitata Gosliner & Smith, 2003[2]
  • Melibe engeli Risbec, 1937[2]
  • Melibe leonina (Gould, 1852)[2]
  • Melibe liltvedi Gosliner, 1987[2]
  • Melibe maugeana Burn, 1960[2]
  • Melibe megaceras Gosliner, 1987[2]
  • Melibe minuta Gosliner & Smith, 2003[2]
  • Melibe papillosa (de Filippi, 1867)[2]
  • Melibe pilosa Pease, 1860[2]
  • Melibe rosea Rang, 1829 - type species[2]
  • Melibe tuberculata Gosliner & Smith, 2003[2]
  • Melibe viridis (Kelaart, 1858) - synonym: Melibe fimbriata Alder & Hancock, 1864; Melibe vexillifera Bergh, 1880; Propomelibe mirifica Allan, 1932; Melibe mirifica (Allan, 1932); ? Melibe japonica Eliot, 1913[2]

doubtful species:

  • Melibe capucina Bergh, 1875[2]
  • Melibe ocellata Bergh, 1888[2]
  • Melibe rangi Bergh, 1875[2]

References
  1. Rang (1829). Man. Moll., 129.
  2. Gosliner T. M. & Smith V. G. (2003). "Systematic review and phylogenetic analysis of the nudibranch genus Melibe (Opistobranchia: Dendronotacea) with descriptions of three new species". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 54: 302-355. PDF.
  3. Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2012). Melibe Rang, 1829. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138547 on 2016-11-14

Further reading
  • Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
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