Coryphellidae Family of Nudibranchs

One Nudibranch of the Coryphellidae Family can be found in this website:

Three-lined Aeolid, Coryphellidae trilineata. A representative of the Coryphellidae Family of Nudibranchs.

Phylogeny: Nudibranchs of the Coryphellidae Family  are sea slugs in the phylum Mollusca and the order Nudibranchia. They are soft-bodied gastropods that lose their shells during their larval phase. Nudibranchs have “naked gills” exposed on their backs that are utilized to separate nudibranchs into two main classifications, the aeolids and the dorids. The Aeolids have a mantle that forms a series of finger-like projections (cerrata) along the entire back of the animal. The Dorids have a thick mantle on their back (dorsal surface) that extends over the foot. Their gills consist of feathery plumes that encircle the anus. The order Nudibranchia is comprised of six suborders and thirteen superfamilies. The Coryphellidae Family is in the suborder Aeolidina and the superfamily Fionoidea.   Coryphellidae is one of sixteen families within this superfamily. The Coryphellidae Family consists of eleven genera and twenty-six species. The name Coryphellidae comes through both Greek and Latin and means “little crown”. This refers to the crown-like cerrata displayed on the dorsum. Species in the Coryphellidae Family are also known as  Coryphellids.

Morphology: Coryphellids have narrow, elongated bodies that taper into a long tail. The foot is wide, especially toward the front of the animal. They have numerous branching cerata on their dorsal surface. The cerata perform digestive and defensive roles, and act as secondary gills. These cerata generally get smaller toward the posterior of the animal.  The cerrata may have rounded or pointed tips. The cerrata are tipped with cnidosacs, which store nematocysts (stinging cells) from their prey. Like all nudibranchs, Coryphellids have rhinophores (horn-like projections) on their heads that are chemosensory organs that help them to locate food and potential mates. They also have a pair of elongated oral tentacles that are sensory and manipulating organs. Coryphellids lack complex eyes, but have photo-receptors that sense light and dark. Most Coryphellids are translucent white or gray in color. The cerrata come in a variety of drab to bright colors. They derive the pigments for their color from the food they eat. The cerrata are often tipped or banded in white. Most Coryphellids are fairly small but some reach a maximum of 12 cm (4.7 inches) in length.

Habitat and Distribution: Coryphellids can be found on algae, hard substrates such as rocks, reefs, pilings, and wreckage, and occasionally on soft substrates. They live in the intertidal zone and to depths as great as 400 m (1,312 feet). They are found worldwide in polar to tropical seas. Two species from the Coryphellidae Family are found in Mexican waters.

Reproduction: Coryphellid Nudibranchs are simultaneous hermaphrodites (having both male and female reproductive organs). They reproduce sexually with internal fertilization.  After being fertilized internally, the eggs are laid in coiled, gelatinous, ribbons, attached to the substrate or on the tubes of their prey.

Ecosystem Roles: Coryphellids feed primarily on hydroids, but also consume detritus and plankton. In turn, they are preyed upon by crabs, other nudibranchs and sea stars,