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Lettuce Sea Slug

Mollusks

The lettuce sea slug is a species of sacoglossan sea slug found in shallow tropical and subtropical waters of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, named for its ruffled, leaf-like body, which resembles a head of lettuce and can vary widely in color. Like several other Elysia species, it is capable of kleptoplasty, retaining functional chloroplasts from the algae it eats within its own tissues, which allows it to photosynthesize for a period after feeding.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Herbivore 1
Diet
Photosynthetic Autotroph 1
System (Realm)
Marine 2
Relationship to People
Kept as Pets 3
Comparison
NatureServe Rank
G3 Vulnerable 4
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 3
Scientific Name
Elysia crispata 1
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated 3
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Gastropoda, Taxa
Source Wikidata: Lettuce Sea Slug

In Biome

Marine, Biomes
Source Wikipedia: Elysia crispata

In Ecosystem

Coral Reef Systems, Ecosystems
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Elysia crispata (Animal Diversity Web)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Antigua and Barbuda

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Bahamas

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Cuba

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Jamaica

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

North America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Panama

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

United States

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Elysia crispata
Wikipedia
  • Wikidata Q1410691 (P225 taxon name)
  • In Biome: Marine, Lead section
    Elysia crispata, common name the lettuce sea slug or lettuce slug, is a large and colorful species of sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusk.
View the Source
2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Elysia crispata (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Positive Impacts
    Positive Impacts pet trade pet trade
  • Conservation Status: CITES
    CITES No special status
  • Conservation Status: IUCN Red List
    IUCN Red List Not Evaluated
  • In Ecosystem: Coral Reef Systems, Habitat
    Elysia crispata prefers tropical reefs and thrives in environments abundant with algae, mainly at depths from 0.5 to 12 m.
View the Source
4. NatureServe Explorer: Elysia crispata
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G3"
View the Source
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
International Union for Conservation of NatureView the Source
Wikidata: Lettuce Sea Slug
Child Taxon Of: Gastropoda, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
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