Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Mollusca
- Class: Gastropoda
- Order: Nudibranchia
- Family: Aegiridae
- Genus: Aegires
- Species: Aegires sublaevis
- Authority: Odhner, 1932
Description
Aegires sublaevis is a species of sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, belonging to the marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks. Like other members of the family Aegiridae, it possesses a relatively rigid body covered with tubercles. The animal attains a maximum recorded length of about 12 mm. Its coloration is generally white to yellowish, with brown spots that resemble the oscules of the calcareous sponge on which it feeds, providing effective camouflage.
Distribution
The species was originally described from Puerto de Orotavo, Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Subsequent records extend its range to the Azores, mainland Portugal and Spain, and the Mediterranean Sea. More distant occurrences include the Pacific coast of Panama and the Galápagos Islands. Reports from the Caribbean have revealed that specimens previously identified as A. sublaevis may represent several similar, yet distinct, species.
Ecology
Aegires sublaevis is a specialized feeder on calcareous sponges, particularly Clathrina clathrus. Its coloration and pattern mimic the sponge’s oscules, facilitating both camouflage and close association with its prey. Like most nudibranchs, it is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, capable of both male and female reproductive functions.
References
- Odhner, N. H. (1932). “Beitrage zur Malakozoologie der Kanarischen Inseln. Lamellibranchien, Cephalopoden, Gastropoden.” Arkiv för Zoologi, Stockholm 23A(14): 1‑116.
- Gofas, S. (2004). Aegires sublaevis Odhner, 1932. In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species.
- Fahey, S. J., & Gosliner, T. M. (2004). “A Phylogenetic Analysis of the Aegiridae Fischer, 1883 (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Phanerobranchia) with Descriptions of Eight New Species and a Reassessment of Phanerobranch Relationships.” Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 55(34): 613‑689.
- Ortea, J., Moro, L., & Espinosa, J. (2015). “Estudio de un grupo de especies caribeñas enmascaradas en el nombre Aegires sublaevis Odhner, 1932.” Revista de la Academia Canaria de Ciencias 27: 243‑258.
- Rudman, W. B. (2005). Aegires sublaevis Odhner, 1932. Sea Slug Forum, Australian Museum, Sydney.
This entry is based on information available from peer‑reviewed taxonomic literature and reputable marine species databases.