Javier Diaz Frogmen, Spanien
Info
Thuridilla ratna (Er. Marcus, 1965)
he special feature of the genus Thuridilla are the parapodia folded over the back. Thuridilla have specialized in very specific algae. They store chloroplasts from green algae on which they feed and belong to the so-called "solar-powered slugs". Whether every species has this property is beyond our knowledge.
Members of the Thuridilla genus are brightly colored but not cryptic. They are often found on substrates other than the algae they eat.
The species name "ratna" means "jewel" or "precious stone" in Sanskrit.
Thuridilla ratna is found around coral reefs. Ratna means “jewel” or “precious stone” in Sanskrit.
There has been much confusion as to the identity of this species. Rudman and Gosliner previously believed that Thuridilla ratna, T. gracilis and Thuridilla bayeri were synonyms and named it Thuridilla gracilis as it was previously described. However, DNA studies from 2007 showed that Thuridilla bayeri should be a separate species. Since the description for Thuridilla gracilis can apply to both Thuridilla bayeri and Thuridilla ratna, Jenson (who reviewed the Sacoglossans in Singapore) decided it was more appropriate to go back to Thuridilla bayeri and Thuridilla ratna for the two species. and identified the species recorded in Singapore as Thuridilla ratna.
Synonymised names:
Elysia ratna Er. Marcus, 1965 · unaccepted
he special feature of the genus Thuridilla are the parapodia folded over the back. Thuridilla have specialized in very specific algae. They store chloroplasts from green algae on which they feed and belong to the so-called "solar-powered slugs". Whether every species has this property is beyond our knowledge.
Members of the Thuridilla genus are brightly colored but not cryptic. They are often found on substrates other than the algae they eat.
The species name "ratna" means "jewel" or "precious stone" in Sanskrit.
Thuridilla ratna is found around coral reefs. Ratna means “jewel” or “precious stone” in Sanskrit.
There has been much confusion as to the identity of this species. Rudman and Gosliner previously believed that Thuridilla ratna, T. gracilis and Thuridilla bayeri were synonyms and named it Thuridilla gracilis as it was previously described. However, DNA studies from 2007 showed that Thuridilla bayeri should be a separate species. Since the description for Thuridilla gracilis can apply to both Thuridilla bayeri and Thuridilla ratna, Jenson (who reviewed the Sacoglossans in Singapore) decided it was more appropriate to go back to Thuridilla bayeri and Thuridilla ratna for the two species. and identified the species recorded in Singapore as Thuridilla ratna.
Synonymised names:
Elysia ratna Er. Marcus, 1965 · unaccepted
