Ornate elysia (Elysia ornata)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Elysia ornata
- Common name
- Ornate elysia
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Plakobranchidae
- Genus
- Elysia
- Size
- 2–5 cm
- Depth
- 1–20 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- benthic, slow-mover
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Elysia ornata reaches 5 cm. Sacoglossan (Plakobranchidae) Indo-Pacific with elongated vivid green body (color of sequestered chloroplasts) with distinctive wavy black-yellow-white outer margin (hence ornata). Lateral wavy leaf-like parapodia. Lives from 1 to 20 m on green algae of coral and rocky reefs of entire Indo-Pacific. Photosynthesis via kleptoplasty (algae chloroplast sequestration). Accessible macro photo subject of Lembeh dives.
Photo of Ornate elysia
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Ornate elysia?
- Ornate elysia (Elysia ornata) reaches 2–5 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Ornate elysia?
- Ornate elysia is found between 1–20 m deep.
- Is the Ornate elysia dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Ornate elysia?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Ornate elysia?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Elysia
Other species in the family Plakobranchidae
- Thuridilla gracilis - Graceful thuridilla
- Plakobranchus ocellatus - Ocellated plakobranchus
- Thuridilla lineolata - Lineolate thuridilla
- Thuridilla bayeri - Bayer's thuridilla
- Thuridilla hopei - Hope's thuridilla
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 139682)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5192089)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia