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Description
Elysia is a large genus of sacoglossans ("sap-sucking" sea slugs) in the family Plakobranchidae; they are not true nudibranchs. They are small, often green or colourful slugs found in many seas worldwide that graze on algae. Several species keep functional chloroplasts from their food alga alive in their tissues (kleptoplasty) and gain extra energy from photosynthesis. The Mediterranean Elysia timida, about 2 cm long, feeds on the green alga Acetabularia.
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Identification
Elysia species have a pair of fleshy lateral flaps (parapodia) that fold up over the back like wings, and rolled rhinophores with truncated tips. A rounded bump over the heart region (renopericardial prominence) with branching lines is visible on the back. The genus is still not systematically settled, so species are hard to separate on external features alone.
Species in this genus (7)
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