Melibe is a genus of sea slugs, nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Tethydidae.[2]
Melibe | |
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Melibe viridis, anterior end at the front with the large rounded oral hood | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Order: | Nudibranchia |
Suborder: | Cladobranchia |
Family: | Tethydidae |
Genus: | Melibe Rang, 1829[1] |
Species | |
17 species (see text) | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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Most nudibranchs are carnivores, but their prey is usually sessile or slow-moving animals such as sponges or bryozoans. In contrast, Melibe is an active predator which traps fast-moving free-swimming animals such as small crustaceans, using its extendable oral hood. [1]
Species within the genus Melibe include 17 valid species:[2]