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Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
Thuridilla undula is one of eleven described species of Thuridilla found in Okinawan waters. The eleven species are:
T. albopustulosa T. bayeri T. carlsoni T. flavomaculata T. gracilis To be featured at an later date T. hoffae (the above featured animal) T. kathae T. livida T. splendens T. undula T. vatae
T. hoffae is considered to be rare on Okinawa; five specimens of these attractive little sacoglossans have been collected since the initial animal was found on 18 April, 1987. The above featured animal was found in a mixed sand/coral rubble environment, amid spur and groove formations of a mostly dead stony coral reef. The animal was found crawling on the surface of rubble during a mid-morning SCUBA excursion.
This strikingly beautiful animal was named by Terry Gosliner for Patty Jo Hoff who, along with Clay Carlson, initially discovered the species. I've also included a second page with images of two additional animals; the first of these is an image of one of the two Okinawa-collected paratypes*.
*paratype: See
"Type" Dictionary for explanation.
Literature Cited:
