Solar-powered sea slug (Elysia timida)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Elysia timida
- Common name
- Solar-powered sea slug
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Plakobranchidae
- Genus
- Elysia
- Size
- 1–2 cm
- Depth
- 0–10 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef, rocky
- Behaviours
- photosynthetic, specialist-feeder
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Mediterranean
Description
Elysia timida is a tiny sacoglossan of 1 to 2 cm, whitish body dotted with vivid-red spots. Remarkable trait: after puncturing and emptying a green-algal cell (Acetabularia), it incorporates the chloroplasts into its own tissues (kleptoplasty) and photosynthesizes for several weeks. Folds up droplet-like when disturbed. Very common on shallow algae.
Photo of Solar-powered sea slug
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Solar-powered sea slug?
- Solar-powered sea slug (Elysia timida) reaches 1–2 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Solar-powered sea slug?
- Solar-powered sea slug is found between 0–10 m deep.
- Is the Solar-powered sea slug dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Solar-powered sea slug?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Solar-powered sea slug?
- Found in: East Atlantic, 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 139684)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5724662)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia