Family AEGIRIDAE Fischer, 1883

Family Aegiridae. Aegires villosus.(from Beesley, Ross & Wells 1998) [S. Weidland]

Museums

Regional Maps

• Aegiridae Fischer, 1883.
• Aegiretidae [subsequent misspelling].

Introduction

A diverse family of slender species varying greatly in colour and body ornamentation. All species have three pre-branchial lappet or papillae that overtower the gills, and high rhinophoral sheaths with varying-sized papillae along the margin. All species are sponge feeders, and can be very cryptic when on their food. Some species have blue or green, even pink, shining ocelli (eye-spots) along each side and over the body.

[Compiled from Burn (in press 2012)]

General References

Beesley, P.L., Ross, G.J.B. & Wells, A. (eds) 1998. Mollusca: The Southern Synthesis. Fauna of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing Vol. 5(Part B) pp. vi–viii, 565–1234. [995]

Burn, R. 2006. A checklist and bibliography of the Opisthobranchia (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of Victoria and the Bass Strait area, south-eastern Australia. Museum Victoria Science Report 10: 1-42

History of changes