Dirona is a genus of sea slugs, Pacific Ocean nudibranchs, marine, opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Dironidae.[1]
| Dirona | |
|---|---|
| |
| Dirona albolineata | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Cladobranchia |
| Family: | Dironidae |
| Genus: | Dirona MacFarland, 1905 |
Dirona is the type genus of the family Dironidae.
This genus is characterized by large, broad cerata.
Distribution edit
These nudibranchs live on the West Coast of North America and Central America, some extending west into Japanese and Russian waters.
Habitat edit
Dironids live in various habitats, including the intertidal zone of rocky shores, bays and estuaries.
Life habits edit
Most species in this genus eat various species of bryozoans. Some also feed on hydroids and ascidians.[2]
Species edit
Species within this genus include:
- Dirona akkeshiensis Baba, 1957
- Dirona albolineata MacFarland, 1905
- Dirona pellucida Volodchenko, 1941
- Dirona picta MacFarland, 1905
- Species brought into synonymy
- Dirona aurantia Hurst, 1966: synonym of Dirona pellucida Volodchenko, 1941
References edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dirona.
- ^ MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Dirona MacFarland, 1905. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2021-01-18.
- ^ Behrens David W., 1980, Pacific Coast Nudibranchs: a guide to the opisthobranchs of the northeastern Pacific, Sea Challenger Books, California