Rhodope placozophagus
| Rhodope placozophagus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Family: | Rhodopidae |
| Genus: | Rhodope |
| Species: | R. placozophagus |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhodope placozophagus Cuervo-González, 2017 | |
Rhodope placozophagus is a species of small meiofaunal sea slug, a shell-less vermiform gastropod mollusk in the family Rhodopidae.[1][2]
Feeding habits
Rhodopids are the only known predators of placozoans, which make up the primary component of their diet.[3] Rhodope placozophagus can subsist entirely on a diet of placozoans, and are apparently immune to their toxins.[1]
References
- ^ a b Cuervo-González, Rodrigo (2017). "Rhodope placozophagus (Heterobranchia) a new species of turbellarian-like Gastropoda that preys on placozoans". Zoologischer Anzeiger. 270: 43–48. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2017.09.005. ISSN 0044-5231.
- ^ "MolluscaBase - Rhodope placozophagus Cuervo-González, 2017". www.molluscabase.org. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ^ Eitel, Michael; Osigus, Hans‐Jürgen; Brenzinger, Bastian; Wörheide, Gert (2024). "Beauty in the beast – Placozoan biodiversity explored through molluscan predator genomics". Ecology and Evolution. 14 (4). doi:10.1002/ece3.11220. ISSN 2045-7758. PMC 11007570.