Eastern Emerald Elysia Elysia chlorotica Gould, 1870    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Mollusca   >   Class Gastropoda   >   Order Sacoglossa   >   Family Elysiidae   >   Genus Elysia   

Status:

"Elysia chlorotica is a "solar-powered" marine sea slug that sequesters and retains photosynthetically active chloroplasts from the algae it eats and, remarkably, has incorporated algal genes into its own genetic code. It is emerald green in color often with small red or white markings, has a slender shape typical of members of its genus, and parapodia (lateral "wings") that fold over its body in life. This sea slug is unique among animals to possess photosynthesis-specific genes and is an extraordinary example of symbiosis between an alga and mollusc as well as a genetic chimera of these two organisms" (J. Vendetti/LifeDesk).

There are 10 records in the project database.

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An Eastern Emerald Elysia in Somerset Co., Maryland (8/28/2017). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

An Eastern Emerald Elysia in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/28/2016). Measured 25 mm. Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

An Eastern Emerald Elysia found in the York River, Gloucester Co., Virginia (6/5/2013). Photo by Natalia Agudelo. (MBP list)



Eastern Emerald Elysia in Dorchester Co., Maryland (4/18/2023). (c) bow brown brook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bow_brown_brook via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Eastern Emerald Elysia in Dorchester Co., Maryland (4/18/2023). (c) bow brown brook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bow_brown_brook via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An Eastern Emerald Elysia in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/12/2017). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)


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