Elysia timida

Elysia timida is a species of sacoglossan sea slug, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk.

Description

Elysia timida is a small sea slug, growing to a length of about 12 mm (0.5 in). The head bears a pair of long, smooth rhinophores, at the base of which are a pair of black eyespots. The broad foot widens into two lobed parapodia which can fold up over the back. The colour is mainly white with widely scattered red or orange spots, but the dorsal surface of the body, and the inner surface of the parapodia, are some shade of mid- to dark green. When the animal has been living in a habitat with Lithophyllum or other pink calcareous algae, the white colour may be tinged with mauve.

Distribution

This marine species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Atlantic Ocean of the Cape Verdes and in the Caribbean Sea.

Habitat

It is found in sea grass beds and on rocks on which the algae on which it feeds is growing, at depths down to about 20 m (66 ft).

It feeds on the algae Acetabularia acetabulum (from which it keeps the chloroplasts, that are able to continue photosynthesis in the slug's tissues) and Padina pavonica.