Size and Colouration
Elysia sp. has quite striking colouration, with animals mostly green on the dorsal surface of the parapodia with opaque white lateral stripes. The ventral surface of the parapodia are quite similarly coloured, though the white stripes are less opaque and much more pronounced. The parapodial margins are lined with a white stripe, surrounded by a layer of black colouration, and then a layer of striking yellow. The pericardium in this species is seen to be mostly opaque white, with a green colouration to the mid-section. The dorsal surface of the head is similarly an opaque white, though the ventral surface leading down toward and including the mouth is a translucent green. The rhinophores of this species are seen to be mostly white, rolled inwards and with dark purple tips.
Using measurements taken from the three specimens collected, this species was found to be between 0.7-1cm in length. When parapodia are extended outwards and flattened dorso-ventrally, the specimens were seen to be 0.5-0.6cm wide, as seen in Figure 1 below. It is worth noting that the parapodia of this species are noticeably thicker than in most other species of Elysia, though are not dissimilar in thickness to those of Elysia timida. In addition, the rhinophores of this species are seen to be longer than those of most other Elysia species, but again are quite similar in length to those of Elysia timida (refer Figure 2). Little variation was seen between the three specimens, though it should be noted that both the dorsal and ventral white lines on the parapodia are not uniform and therefore show a degree of variability between individuals.
Figure 1- Elysia sp. Measurements and Relative Colouration
Figure 2- Elysia timida shares some of the morphological characteristics of Elysia sp. Image taken from Sea Slug Forum [www.seaslugforum.net].
|