Roboastra luteolineata
Encyclopedia
Roboastra luteolineata, is a species
of sea slug
, a nudibranch
, a marine
gastropod mollusc in the family
Polyceridae
.
Ocean. It has been observed as far afield as Japan in the Northern hemisphere and the Poor Knights Islands
in New Zealand in the Southern hemisphere. This species is sometimes confused with the nudibranch Tambja affinis due to its outwardly similar appearance.
, feeds on other nudibranchs, actively hunting them out. The species seems to generally feed only on nudibranchs from the family Polyceridae
and has been observed eating Tambja morosa
, Tambja verconis and Nembrotha kubaryana
. It is also cannibalistic and will eat smaller individuals of its own species.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of sea slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
, a nudibranch
Nudibranch
A nudibranch is a member of what is now a taxonomic clade, and what was previously a suborder, of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms...
, a marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod mollusc in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Polyceridae
Polyceridae
Polyceridae is a taxonomic family of sea slugs, dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks within the Superfamily Polyceroidea.- Taxonomy :...
.
Distribution
This species occurs in the tropical Indo-PacificIndo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia...
Ocean. It has been observed as far afield as Japan in the Northern hemisphere and the Poor Knights Islands
Poor Knights Islands
The Poor Knights Islands are a group of islands off the east coast of the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. They are located to the northeast of Whangarei, and lie offshore half way between Bream Head and Cape Brett. Uninhabited since the 1820s, they are a nature reserve and...
in New Zealand in the Southern hemisphere. This species is sometimes confused with the nudibranch Tambja affinis due to its outwardly similar appearance.
Description
Roboastra luteolineata is quite large in comparison to most other sea-slugs. It is black, with yellow lines running lengthwise down the body. It can be distinguished from other similar looking nudibranchs by the light green patches on the top of the head between its rhinophores. It is a fast-moving species.Ecology
Roboastra luteolineata, like other species in the genus RoboastraRoboastra
Roboastra is a genus of nudibranchs, gastropod molluscs in the Polyceridae family. They are carnivorous, feeding on other species of nudibranch.- Species :Species in the genus Roboastra include:* Roboastra europaea García-Gómez, 1985...
, feeds on other nudibranchs, actively hunting them out. The species seems to generally feed only on nudibranchs from the family Polyceridae
Polyceridae
Polyceridae is a taxonomic family of sea slugs, dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks within the Superfamily Polyceroidea.- Taxonomy :...
and has been observed eating Tambja morosa
Tambja morosa
Tambja morosa, also known as Tambja kushimotoensis, is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Nembrothinae within the family Polyceridae, itself belonging to the clade Orthogastropoda within the clade Nudipleura...
, Tambja verconis and Nembrotha kubaryana
Nembrotha kubaryana
Nembrotha kubaryana, also known as the variable neon slug, is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Polyceridae. Its synonyms include Nembrotha nigerrima.-Description:...
. It is also cannibalistic and will eat smaller individuals of its own species.