Sacoproteus Smaragdinus

Stiliger smaragdinus is a species of small and minute sacoglossan or sap-sucking sea slugs, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Limapontiidae.

Description

This is a relatively large, olive-green species with spindle-shaped, slightly iridescent cerata. The distal portions of the cerata are darker green and their inner surfaces are weakly tuberculate with white flecks.

Various pigment spots can be seen on the surface of the body, ranging from white to yellow and dark green.

The rhinophores are tipped with white and there is a dark olive-green line running across the head between the eye spots.

Distribution

Described from South Japan to Australia, including Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales.

Habitat

It has a resemblance to the green alga Caulerpa racemosa on which it lives and feeds. It feeds by sucking the cell contents out of the large bubble-like cells of the Caulerpa.