Marionia sp.

Photo courtesy of Webmaster
Batangas, Philippines
April 2000

Marionia sp. (undescribed)

Members of the family Tritoniidae are some of the more difficult species to describe. This is why so many species have yet to be named. This species is relatively common in the Philippine archipelago, but is still undescribed.

This species distinguishing characteristic is the series of dark brownish green bands across the notum. Webmaster Mike has observed that this critter secretes copious quantities of defensive slime when disturbed. The chemical repellants, called antifeedants or ichthyotoxicants, can cause acute damage to the mouths and gills of predatory fishes foolish enough to sample this species.

The species feeds on dendronephid soft corals , such as Lemnalia , and is hunted and eaten by the voracious dorid nudibranch, Gymnodoris aurita .

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
March 2005

Ali Hermosillo and Dave Behrens Author: Pacific Coast Nudibranchs Co-Author Coral Reef Animals of the Indo Pacific Proprietor of Sea Challengers Natural History Books Send Dave mail at dave@seachallengers.com

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