Flabellina affinis is a species of sea slug within the clade of aeolid nudibranch; a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Flabellinidae.

Distribution

This species is found in depths to 50 m in European waters in the Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to Ghana and the Canaries and is widespread in the Mediterranean Sea.

Description

The species can grow to a length of 50 mm. It feeds primarily on species of Eudendrium, a very common hydroid genus in the Mediterranean Sea.

Flabellina affinis is often confused with Paraflabellina ischitana, but can be distinguished as follows:

  • Flabellina affinis: the outer part of the digestive gland in each ceras is not visible as the area beneath the subapical white ring is opaque violet in colour.
  • Paraflabellina ischitana: the ceratal surface has no purple-violet colouration and is translucent.

External links

  • Photos of in the Sealife Collection
  • Photo study of the