Verconia varians is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.[1]

Verconia varians
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Verconia
Species:
V. varians
Binomial name
Verconia varians
(Pease, 1871)
Synonyms
  • Chromodoris gloriosa Bergh, 1874
  • Chromodoris varians Pease, 1871 (original combination)
  • Noumea varians (Pease, 1871)

Distribution

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This marine species is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific from Indonesia to the Hawaiian Islands.[2]

Description

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  • Body: translucent coloration with a segmented white stripe on the midline, a white mantle margin, and a magenta submarginal line.
  • Rhinophores: translucent base with orange tips
  • Gills: translucent base with magenta tips

This species is one of several chromodorids that vibrate their gills. Up to 20 mm in length.

Ecology

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References

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  1. ^ Rudman W.B. (1984) The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: a review of the genera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 81 (2/3): 115-273. page(s): 143 Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=558469 on 2012-02-25
  2. ^ "Verconia varians: Main page".
  • Pease, W.H. 1871. Descriptions of new nudibranchiate Mollusca inhabiting Polynesia. American Journal of Conchology 7: 11-20
  • Marshall, J.G. & Willan, R.C. 1999. Nudibranchs of Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef. Leiden : Backhuys 257 pp.
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