Thorunna kahuna
Thorunna kahuna is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.[2][3]
Thorunna kahuna | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Order: | Nudibranchia |
Suborder: | Doridina |
Superfamily: | Doridoidea |
Family: | Chromodorididae |
Genus: | Thorunna |
Species: | T. kahuna |
Binomial name | |
Thorunna kahuna Johnson R.F. & Gosliner, 2001[1] | |
Distribution
This marine species occurs off Hawaii.
Description
This species is translucent pinkish-white with a magenta submarginal line on the mantle. On the back foot it has two dark purple lines. The rhinophores have translucent pink stalks and orange-red clubs while the gills are orange-red with translucent pink bases. There are prominent, opaque-white mantle glands around the posterior margin of the mantle and, occasionally, in front of the rhinophores which help distinguish it from the very similar Thorunna daniellae.[4] Adult specimens are about 10–16 mm (0.39–0.63 in) long.[5]
Ecology
This species feeds on sponges of the genus Dysidea.[4]
References
- Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2001) Two new species of Thorunna Bergh 1878 (Mollusca: Nudibranchia: Chromodorididae) from the Indo-Pacific. Bollettino Malacologico 37 (5-8): 143-150.
- MolluscaBase (2018). Thorunna kahuna R.F. Johnson & Gosliner, 2001. Accessed on 2018-12-23.
- Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012) Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33479
- Pittman, C. & Fiene, P., 2018. Thorunna kahuna Sea slugs of Hawaii, accessed 2018-12-23.
- Rudman, W.B., 2003 (October 1) Thorunna kahuna Johnson & Gosliner, 2001. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.