Okenia aspersa

Okenia aspersa
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Heterobranchia
Order:	Nudibranchia
Suborder:	Doridina
Superfamily:	Onchidoridoidea
Family:	Goniodorididae
Genus:	Okenia
Species:	O. aspersa
Binomial name
	Okenia aspersa; (Alder & Hancock, 1845)
Synonyms
	Doris quadricornis Montagu, 1813 (ICZN opinion 1014: suppressed under the plenary powers for the purpose of the Principle of Priority); Idalia aspersa Alder & Hancock, 1845 (original combination); Idalia caudata Orested, 1844; Idalia modesta Verrill, 1875; Idaliella modesta (A. E. Verrill, 1875); Okenia leachii var. quadricornis (Montagu, 1815); Okenia modesta (A. E. Verrill, 1875); Okenia quadricornis (Montagu, 1815) (suppressed under ICZN Opinion 1014);

Okenia aspersa is a species of sea slug, a Dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.^[2]

Distribution[edit]

This species was first described from Cullercoats, North Sea. It has subsequently been reported widely in Britain and Ireland and north to Norway and south to Arcachon Bay, France.^[3]

*Okenia aspersa* illustration accompanying the original description in *A monograph of the British nudibranchiate Mollusca*

Description[edit]

This goniodorid nudibranch is translucent white in colour, with spots and blotches of red-brown and cream It shows marbling over the body, on the pallial tentacles, rhinophores and gills.^[4]

Ecology[edit]

Okenia aspersa feeds on the tunicate Molgula occulta, family Molgulidae which lives buried in muddy sand seabeds.^[5]

References[edit]

^ Alder, J., & Hancock, A. (1845). A monograph of the British nudibranchiate Mollusca: with figures of all the species. Pt. 1, fam. 1, pls. 4, 5, 26; fam. 3, pls. 3, 21, 24, 26, 34-36. Ray Society, London.
^ Okenia aspersa (Alder & Hancock, 1845). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 10 January 2019.
^ Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels. 50: pp. 180–213.
^ Thompson, T. E., & G. H. Brown. 1984. Biology of opisthobranch molluscs, vol. 2, 229 pp., 41 pls. Ray Society, no. 156.
^ Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2015). Okenia aspersa (Alder & Hancock, 1845). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.]

[A&H-1] Alder, J., & Hancock, A. (1845). A monograph of the British nudibranchiate Mollusca: with figures of all the species. Pt. 1, fam. 1, pls. 4, 5, 26; fam. 3, pls. 3, 21, 24, 26, 34-36. Ray Society, London.

[WoRMS-2] Okenia aspersa (Alder & Hancock, 1845). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 10 January 2019.

[3] Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels. 50: pp. 180–213.

[TB-4] Thompson, T. E., & G. H. Brown. 1984. Biology of opisthobranch molluscs, vol. 2, 229 pp., 41 pls. Ray Society, no. 156.

[5] Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2015). Okenia aspersa (Alder & Hancock, 1845). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.]

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