General Description
Body shape slug-like with shell. Gill structures internal. Pattern includes shades or colours of green and/or yellow. Animal up to 6 mm long, shell up to 5 mm across.
Biology
This species feeds only on the green seaweed, Caulerpa simpliciuscula. It can withdraw completely into its shell and gives-off a white discharge when disturbed.
Distribution
Southern Australia.
Habitat
On and among green algae in shallow waters, to depth of 2 m.
More Information
-
Animal Type
-
Animal SubType
-
Brief Id
Dark green, shell mantle with yellow-white spots.
-
Maximum Size
6 mm
-
Habitats
-
Diet
Herbivore
-
Endemicity
-
Commercial
No
-
Conservation Statuses
DSE Advisory List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
-
Depths
Shore (0-1 m), Shallow (1-30 m)
-
Water Column Locations
On or near seafloor
-
Taxon Name
-
Scientific Author
Burn, 1960
-
Common Name
Sap-sucking Sea Slug
-
Phylum
-
Subphylum
-
Superclass
-
Class
-
Subclass
-
Superorder
-
Order
-
Suborder
-
Superfamily
-
Family
-
Genus
-
Species Name
australis
