Edmunsella pedata
Edmunsella pedata (Montagu, 1815)
synonyms
Flabellina pedata
Lateral view of Flabellina pedata.
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
I.F. Smith
Length 10mm. On rocky shore exposed to strong currents, ELWS, Menai Strait, Wales. March 2011. Found by Debbie Evans.
Edmunsella pedata
Distribution and status
Norway to northern Adriatic. (GBIF map). Because it is easy to identify, there are many records all round Ireland and Britain on hard substrate sea beds and occasionally on rocky shores where a strong current favours the food organisms. (UK interactive distribution map NBN.)
Ecology and behaviour
LWS rocky shores and offshore. On or near its prey; Eudendrium (sp. uncertain) (EML) and possibly some other hydroids. Hermaphrodite. Thin white spiral of spawn among Eudendrium. Veliger larvae drift as plankton for about two weeks before settling on the sea floor and transforming into the adult form. Breeds May to September.
Similar species
No other British species of aeolid has a violet or purple body.
References and links
Alder, J. & Hancock, A. 1845-1855. A monograph of the British nudibranchiate mollusca. London, Ray Society.
Thompson, T.E. & Brown, G.H. 1984. Biology of opisthobranch molluscs 2. London, Ray Society.
Current taxonomy: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS)
Irish distribution maps and prey organisms:
Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C., 2010. Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland (EML)
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000175353]
Sort order
5900
Taxonomic group
Marine slug
Currently accepted name: Edmunsella pedata (Montagu, 1815)
Body (excluding appendages)