Dolabrifera
From Free net encyclopedia
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Dolabrifera
| status = Conservation status: Secure
| regnum = Animalia
| phylum = Mollusca
| classis = Gastropoda
| subclassis = Orthogastropoda
| superordo = Heterobranchia
| ordo = Opisthobranchia
| subordo = Anaspidea
| superfamilia = Aplysioidea
| familia = Aplysiidae
| genus = Dolabrifera
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
Dolabrifera brazieri
Dolabrifera dolabrifera
}}
Dolabrifera (Gray, 1847) is a genus of sea hares, belonging to the family Aplysiidae.
A more general description can be found on the page of the superfamily Aplysioidea.
Contents |
Species (two)
Dolabrifera brazieri
- Sowerby, 1870
- Distribution : Australia, New Zealand.
- Color : variable mimicking the background, but usually from pale yellow to mottled green
- Length : 15 cm
- Description : mantle covered with conical tubercles; fused parapodia (= fleshy winglipe flaps); found under rocks.
Dolabrifera dolabrifera
Image:Dolabrifera1.jpg Image:Dolabrifera2.jpg Image:Dolabrifera3.jpg Image:Dolabrifera5.jpg
- Cuvier, 1817
- Distribution : circumglobal; tropical and subtropical waters.
- Length : 4 cm
- Color : varies greatly between individuals and populations, mostly between beige and mottled green, but pink and chartreuse green has been spotted; this offers a good camouflage against the background.
- Description : rather flat mantle with a broad posterior, narrowing towards the head; fused parapodia, except for a short region in the posterior midline; eggs are zigzag-shaped ribbons, pink when laid then changing color to brown before hatching; moves in a unique way, like a leech; feeds mostly by grazing on filamentous algae.
This species is frequently sold as "algae eating sea hare" at aquarium stores for saltwater and reef tanks.