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Melibe viridis Kelaart, 1858
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Click the thumbnail photos to enhance!
The most unique attribute of the genus Melibe and so of Melibe viridis is their method of
feeding. They have no radular teeth and but have developed the oral veil into a large veil or "fish net"
which they use to constantly scan the substrate as they crawl along. When the sensitive papillae on the
inner edge of the oral veil touch a small crab or crustacean the edge of the veil is rapidly contracted,
trapping the prey, which is then ingested. This shot I had labeled as
Melibe mirifica, but Gosliner and Smith state in
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES page 323 that they agree with
Rudman that this is a junior sysnonym of Melibe viridis
More informations on Melibe viridis are at
Bill Rudman's Sea-Slug Forum!
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