Elysia pusilla: taxon details and analytics

Domain
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Family
Plakobranchidae
Genus
Elysia
Species
Elysia pusilla
Scientific Name
Elysia pusilla

Summary description from Wikipedia:

Elysia pusilla

Elysia pusilla is a species of small sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Plakobranchidae. It is a sacoglossan.

Elysia pusilla feeds on the calcified green alga Halimeda and incorporates functioning chloroplasts into its body, thus it is known as a solar-powered sea slug. It is found in shallow water in tropical regions of the Indo-Pacific wherever its host species grows.

Elysia pusilla are part of Sacoglossa, also known as the solar powered sea slugs and might be the most common Elysia species. Sacoglossans are marine gastropods that ingest the chloroplast of algae. Sacoglossa has two superfamilies under it: Plakobranchidae and Oxynoace. The distinguishing feature between the two superfamilies is having a shell or being able to store chloroplast. Oxynoacea consists of three shelled families, all of whom don't photosynthesize with the algae they consume. However, they might be able to retain the chloroplast and use it as camouflage. Elysia pusilla is under the superfamily Plakobranchidae. The majority of the organisms in this superfamily are shell less, however, many develop a shell before hatching. Sacoglossa are the only metazoans on earth to exhibit kleptoplasty. The only other organisms known to have this ability are single celled protists.

Elysia pusilla and Elysia stylifera are each other's closest living relative. They are often found together on a calcareous algae called Halimeda. The sea slugs use the chemicals to protect themselves and their eggs.

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Elysia pusilla in languages:

French
Elysie naine
Japanese
ウチワミドリガイ

Images from inaturalist.org observations:

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Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Johan Bas, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Tracey Howley, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Johan Bas, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©lynsh, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©lynsh, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©alioops, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Rafi Amar, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Shallow Reef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Shallow Reef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Shallow Reef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©manda_beeee, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Shallow Reef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Shallow Reef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Johan Bas, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Glen Whisson, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©manda_beeee, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©manda_beeee, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Johan Bas, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Johan Bas, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©adurbano, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©adurbano, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Johan Bas, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Steve Smith, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-ND)
Elysia pusilla
©Johan Bas, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©kerrycameron, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sylvain Le Bris, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©mscott, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©mscott, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Jenny Stromvoll, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Erwin Koehler, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sylvain Le Bris, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sylvain Le Bris, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Carla van Westing, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sylvain Le Bris, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Tsu Soo Tan, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Carla van Westing, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Carla van Westing, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©terence zahner, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©jim-anderson, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©craigjhowe, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-ND)
Elysia pusilla
©craigjhowe, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©craigjhowe, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-ND)
Elysia pusilla
©Kristin Anderson, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Kristin Anderson, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Mike Krampf, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Mike Krampf, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Mike Krampf, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Mike Krampf, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©craigjhowe, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Franca Wermuth, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Albert Kang, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Kai Squires, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Elysia pusilla
©Franca Wermuth, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Albert Kang, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Franca Wermuth, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Dan Schofield, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Elysia pusilla
©Albert Kang, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Francesco Ricciardi, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Franca Wermuth, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Francesco Ricciardi, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Franca Wermuth, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Stewart Clarke, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©juju98, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Susanne Spindler, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-ND)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Tim Karnasuta, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Johan Bas, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Tim Karnasuta, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Tim Karnasuta, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©henrycarrick, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©henrycarrick, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©henrycarrick, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sara Thiebaud, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Sylvain Le Bris, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Adrie Rolloos, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©juju98, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©juju98, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©lizzydem, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©keastgyy, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©henrycarrick, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©D. Torres-Pulliza, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Adrie Rolloos, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Adrie Rolloos, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Shallow Reef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©dorisreef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Johan Bas, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Elysia pusilla
©Shallow Reef, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

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