Michael Eisenbart
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Pruvotfolia rhodopos Yonow, 2000
There is still disagreement among scientists about the classification of this nudibranch. Originally described as Facelina, then moved to Pruvotfolia and then back to Facelina in 2008. The last regrouping was justified by the realization that this nudibranch does not have a reproductive system characteristic of Pruvotfolia. We therefore currently list the snail as Pruvotfolia rhodopos according to WoRMS. Should new findings emerge, the article will be revised.
The body and cerata of Pruvotfolia rhodopos are transparent yellowish to orange, with 6-15 cerata arranged in 6-15 clusters. The tips can be white and the digestive glands appear reddish-brown through the cerata and the very long oral tentacles are orange to light orange with white spots. The length of the obliquely lamellar rhinophores is only about 1/3 of the long oral tentacles.
Pruvotfolia rhodopos is a food specialist. The thread snail feeds on hydrozoans of the genus Millepora, which are known as fire corals because of their stinging properties and their similarity to stony corals. The thread snail lays its spawn directly on the Millepora.
Synonym: Facelina rhodopos Yonow, 2000
There is still disagreement among scientists about the classification of this nudibranch. Originally described as Facelina, then moved to Pruvotfolia and then back to Facelina in 2008. The last regrouping was justified by the realization that this nudibranch does not have a reproductive system characteristic of Pruvotfolia. We therefore currently list the snail as Pruvotfolia rhodopos according to WoRMS. Should new findings emerge, the article will be revised.
The body and cerata of Pruvotfolia rhodopos are transparent yellowish to orange, with 6-15 cerata arranged in 6-15 clusters. The tips can be white and the digestive glands appear reddish-brown through the cerata and the very long oral tentacles are orange to light orange with white spots. The length of the obliquely lamellar rhinophores is only about 1/3 of the long oral tentacles.
Pruvotfolia rhodopos is a food specialist. The thread snail feeds on hydrozoans of the genus Millepora, which are known as fire corals because of their stinging properties and their similarity to stony corals. The thread snail lays its spawn directly on the Millepora.
Synonym: Facelina rhodopos Yonow, 2000
