Flabellina ischitana
Israel · Mediterranean
- Size
- 25 mm
- Depth
- 0–35 m
- Native range
- Mediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic (Strait of Gibraltar, Portugal).
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Description
A pink to violet Mediterranean aeolid described from Ischia (Bay of Naples) in 1990, now often placed in Paraflabellina. It shares its food and substrate with the similar Flabellina affinis.
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/species/flabellina-ischitana-israel-mediterranean/
Identification
Uniform pink to purple-violet body; rhinophores and oral tentacles with white tips. Rhinophores with 12–19 loosely spaced rings. Cerata in up to 9 groups per side on common stalks, semitransparent showing a red, orange or brown digestive gland, with white tips and no purple band.
Similar species
Flabellina affinis is larger, has purple bands below the white ceratal tips and tightly ringed rhinophores; Edmundsella pedata has smooth rhinophores and cerata arising directly from the body, not on stalks.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Rocky bottoms with Eudendrium hydroids, from shallow water to about 35 m.
Food
Athecate hydroids, especially Eudendrium racemosum and E. glomeratum.