Trapania darvelli explained

Trapania darvelli is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.^[1]

Distribution

This species was described from Hong Kong. It has also been reported from Sabah, Malaysia and Honiara, Solomon Islands which suggests a wide distribution in the central Indo-Pacific region. This species has also been photographed in the Philippines^[2] and Taiwan.^[3]

Description

This goniodorid nudibranch is translucent white frosted with opaque white pigment on the body. The rhinophores, gills, oral tentacles and lateral papillae are chocolate brown. The lateral papillae are unusually large in this species, with a swollen appearance.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Bouchet, P. (2015). Trapania darvelli. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-10-19
2. Behrens, D., 2009. Trapania darvelli. At: The Slug Site, Michael D. Miller
3. Connie Chen Trapania darvelli. Flickr
4. Rudman, W.B., 2001 (July 5) Trapania darvelli Rudman, 1987. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

   Ecology

   Trapania darvelli probably feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on sponges and other living substrata.

   References