Berthella plumula

Berthella plumula
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Pleurobranchida
Family:	Pleurobranchidae
Genus:	Berthella
Species:	B. plumula
Binomial name
	Berthella plumula; (Montagu, 1803)
Synonyms
	Bulla plumula Montagu, 1803; Berthella porosa Blainville, 1824; Cleanthus montagui Leach, 1847; Lamellaria kleciachi Brusina, 1866; Pleurobranchus brevifrons Philippi, 1844; Pleurobranchus fleuriausi d'Orbigny, 1837; Pleurobranchus perforatus Philippi, 1844; Sigaretus stomatellus Risso, 1826;

Berthella plumula, commonly known as yellow-plumed sea slug, is a gastropod mollusc usually found on rocky coasts in the infralittoral zone[1] and which can live up to 30m depth.[2]

Description

Berthella plumula is an oval-shaped sea slug with an internal shell, which can be up to 30 mm (1.2 in) long. The body is up to 60 mm (2.4 in) and has a cream to orange colour and often displays reticulate markings. The head is flat and a large oral veil lies between the propodium and the mantle. The rhinophores are protruding and enrolled.[2] The species has acid glands in the skin which secrete sulphuric acid for protection in case of danger.[3]

Distribution

Berthella plumula is found in the north-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, the English Channel and the North Sea.[4]

Behavior

Diet

Berthella plumula is a slow moving predator which scrapes its radula on rocks to feed on colonial ascidians of the genus Botryllus as well as on Oscarella sponges.[1][2]

Reproduction

The species is hermaphrodite and the two individuals reciprocally fecundate each other by exchanging their sperm. The reproductive period occurs in spring. The laying is tube-shaped and the eggs are displayed in spiral.[4]

Similar species

Berthella plumula can be confused with Berthella stellata, which is smaller and displays a small white mark on its back, and with Berthellina edwardsii, which is usually bigger and more red.[4]

Three specimens of Berthella plumula in Pula, Croatia
Spiral eggs of Berthella plumula in Pula, Croatia
Yellow-plumed sea slug in Pula, Croatia

References

Hayward, Peter; Nelson-Smith, Tony & Shields, Chris (2014). Guide des bords de mer : Mer du Nord, Manche, Atlantique, Méditerranée. Delachaux et Niestlé. ISBN 9782603020029. OCLC 882238836.
Hayward, Peter J.; Ryland, John S., eds. (2 February 2017). Handbook of the Marine Fauna of North-West Europe. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199549443.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-954944-3.
"MarLIN – The Marine Life Information Network – Yellow-plumed sea slug (Berthella plumula)". www.marlin.ac.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
"Berthella plumula | DORIS". doris.ffessm.fr. Retrieved 25 February 2019.

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[:0-1] Hayward, Peter; Nelson-Smith, Tony & Shields, Chris (2014). Guide des bords de mer : Mer du Nord, Manche, Atlantique, Méditerranée. Delachaux et Niestlé. ISBN 9782603020029. OCLC 882238836.

[:1-2] Hayward, Peter J.; Ryland, John S., eds. (2 February 2017). Handbook of the Marine Fauna of North-West Europe. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199549443.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-954944-3.

[3] "MarLIN – The Marine Life Information Network – Yellow-plumed sea slug (Berthella plumula)". www.marlin.ac.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.

[:2-4] "Berthella plumula | DORIS". doris.ffessm.fr. Retrieved 25 February 2019.