More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Molluscs of Zihuatanejo
PHYLUM MOLLUSCA
Mexican Dancer
Elysia diomedea
-Gastropods (Class Gastropoda)
-Heterobranchs (Subclass Heterobranchia)
-Infraclass Euthyneura
-Subterclass Tectipleura
-Sacoglossans (Superorder Sacoglossa)
-Superfamily -Plakobranchoidea
(Family Plakobranchidae)
-Elysias (Genus Elysia)
-Diomedes' Sapsucker (Elysia diomedea)
The Diomedes’ sapsucker (Elysia diomedea) is a small, delicate sea slug in the family Plakobranchidae, found in the eastern Pacific, particularly along the coast of Mexico and Central America. It has a flattened, leaf-like body with broad lateral flaps (parapodia) that are usually bright green to yellow-green, often accented with darker veins or spots, making it resemble a piece of algae. This coloration is not just camouflage: like other Elysia species, it feeds on algae and can retain their chloroplasts in its tissues, allowing it to photosynthesize for a time. Slow-moving and fragile, Elysia diomedea lives in shallow coastal habitats where its algal food grows, blending seamlessly into its surroundings while supplementing its diet with stolen sunlight.
Description
The Mexican dancer (Elysia diomedea), also known as Diomede’s sapsucker, is a shell-less marine gastropod in the family Plakobranchidae. Its elongated body is usually pale to bright green, with white longitudinal lines and scattered dark markings. Large, wing-like flaps called parapodia extend along its sides and have intricately folded edges, often accented with orange, black, or blue markings. The rolled rhinophores on its head commonly display contrasting longitudinal stripes. Adults can reach approximately 10 cm in length. This species can retain functional chloroplasts from the algae it eats, allowing them to continue photosynthesizing within its tissues.
Range
Elysia diomedea occurs in the tropical eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California along the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America to Panama. It is found in coastal waters around Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico.
Habitat
This sea slug inhabits shallow coastal waters, including rocky intertidal areas, tide pools, and subtidal habitats to depths of approximately 20 m. It is commonly associated with green and brown algae, which provide both food and surfaces for shelter.
Diet
Elysia diomedea feeds on algae by piercing their cells and sucking out the contents with its specialised mouthparts. It consumes algae such as Codium and Padina and retains some of their chloroplasts in its tissues through a process called kleptoplasty, gaining additional energy when these chloroplasts photosynthesize in sunlight.