Tenellia phoenix is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Fionidae.[2]

Tenellia phoenix
Santa Cruz, California, USA
Scientific classification
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T. phoenix
Binomial name
Tenellia phoenix
(Gosliner, 1981)[1]
Synonyms
  • Cuthona phoenix Gosliner, 1981
Tenellia phoenix from Santa Cruz, California

Distribution edit

This species was described from La Jolla, California, United States. It has been reported from Monterey Bay to Mission Bay (San Diego), California[3] and Costa Rica.[4]

Description edit

Tenellia phoenix is a small translucent aeolid with swollen cerata and a visible central line of digestive gland which shows through the skin. It is reminiscent of Tergipes tergipes or Eubranchus rupium but intermediate between these species in the number and arrangement of its cerata. The oral tentacles and rhinophores are suffused with brown pigment.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Gosliner, Terrence (1981). "A New Species of Tergipedid Nudibranch from the Coast of California". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 47 (2): 200–205. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.mollus.a065568.
  2. ^ Bouchet, P. (2014). Cuthona phoenix Gosliner, 1981. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-01-31
  3. ^ Hermosillo, A. & Behrens, D.W. (2005). The Opisthobranch fauna of Mexican States of Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero- Filling in the faunal gap. Vita Malacologia, 3: 11-22.
  4. ^ Behrens, D.W. & Hermosillo, A. (2005) Eastern Pacific Nudibranchs. A guide to the Opisthobranchs from Alaska to Central America. Sea Challengers, Monterey. 1-137.
  5. ^ Cuthona phoenix [at] CalPhotos.