(Montagu, 1804)

Description:
The leaf-shaped body may reach 45 mm in length and the lateral parapodial 'wings' may be outstretched or held over the dorsum so that they nearly meet in the midline. The body colour varies with the diet, from green to red. Relatively constant features are, however, tiny glistening red, blue, and green specks. White patches may also be found, especially at the edges of the parapodia, and black markings are sometimes seen on the head and elsewhere. Ramifying diverticula of the digestive gland and of the albumen gland are often visible through the skin of the parapodia and even of the rhinophores and other parts of the head. The anal opening is antero-lateral. The rhinophores are prominent and inrolied. The characteristic parapodial lobes make their appearance at a body-length of 3 mm; younger individuals may lack them (E. viridis-drawing).

Habitat:
This common species occurs on a variety of shallow-water algae, especially Codium and Cladophora . Despite the graceful form of the body and the wide and mobile parapodial lobes, swimming has never been observed.

Distribution:
It has been recorded from Norway to the Mediterranean Sea (Distr. E. viridis), and there is a doubtful record from Chinese waters.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Subclass Opisthobranchia
Order Sacoglossa
Family Elysiidae
Genus Elysia
Species Elysia viridis

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Elysia viridis (Montagu, 1804)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Laplysia viridis Montagu, 1804
Aplysiopterus neapolitanus delle Chiaje, 1830
Elysia marmorata Cantraine, 1835
Elysia minuta Sars M., 1835
Actaeon elegans de Quatrefages, 1844
Elysia fusca Philippi, 1844
Elysia viridis var. olivacea Jeffreys, 1869
Elysia margaritae Fez, 1962
Elysia fezi Vilella, 1968
Elysia pagenstecheri Marcus Ev., 1982

Hayward, P.J., Wigham, G.D. & N. Yonow, 1990. Mollusca I: Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, and Gastropoda. In: The Marine Fauna of the British Isles and North-West Europe. (ed. P.J. Hayward & J.S. Ryland). Clarendon Press, Oxford: 628-730.

Seaward, D.R., 1990. Distribution of the marine molluscs of north west Europe. Nature Conservancy Council.

Thompson, T.E., 1988. Molluscs: Benthic Opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Synopses of the British fauna (NS), 8: 1-356.

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