Joan Barcia
Info
Umbraculum umbraculum (Lightfoot, 1786)
Umbraculum umbraculum is the only species in its genus. A primitive notaspidean with a large external shell covering the dorsal side. The shell is usually overgrown by encrusting plant and animal organisms. Body circular, bearing large pustules. Even when crawling, the animal does not extend itself; the position of the head can only be determined by the tubular rhinophores projecting from beneath the shell margin. Below these tentacles the body is interrupted by a cleft at the anterior midline, which houses the permanently everted penis and the mouth opening. The radula is very broad and bears numerous small rasping teeth.
The surface of Umbraculum umbraculum is warty. The foot is very large. Colour yellowish or greenish, the shell always overgrown. Because the shell is flat and umbrella-like, this species is commonly known as the umbrella slug, Mediterranean umbrella slug or warty umbrella slug. The shell is extremely reduced, so the animal cannot withdraw into it.
The umbrella slug occurs at depths of 4 to 80 m and has occasionally been recorded deeper. It lives on hard substrates as well as on and in sandy bottoms. It is nocturnal and rests buried in sand during the day.
Umbraculum umbraculum feeds on sponges. Scientific studies and observations show that its main diet consists chiefly of sponges of the following genera and species: Tethya spp. (e.g. golf ball sponges), Aaptos aaptos, Ancorina alata and Plakina trilopha.
Mediterranean, eastern Atlantic, Azores to São Tomé.
Synonymised names
Operculatum aurantium Pease, 1868 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Operculatum bermudense Mörch, 1875 · unaccepted
Parmophorus patelloideus Cantraine, 1835 · unaccepted (synonym)
Patella ombracula Blainville, 1819 · unaccepted
Patella sinica Gmelin, 1791 · unaccepted
Patella umbellata Delle Chiaje, 1830 · unaccepted (synonym)
Patella umbraculum [Lightfoot], 1786 · unaccepted (superseded combination)
Umbraculum bermudense (Mörch, 1875) · unaccepted
Umbraculum botanicum Hedley, 1923 · unaccepted
Umbraculum chinense Schumacher, 1817 · unaccepted
Umbraculum indicum (Lamarck, 1819) · unaccepted
Umbraculum mediterraneum (Lamarck, 1819) · unaccepted
Umbraculum ovale (P. P. Carpenter, 1856) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Umbraculum plicatulum (E. von Martens, 1881) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Umbraculum pulchrum G.-Y. Lin, 1981 · unaccepted
Umbraculum sinicum (Gmelin, 1791) · unaccepted
Umbrella cumingi Deshayes, 1863 · unaccepted
Umbrella indica Lamarck, 1819 · unaccepted
Umbrella lamarckiana Récluz, 1843 · unaccepted (synonym)
Umbrella mediterranea Lamarck, 1819 · unaccepted
Umbrella ovalis P. P. Carpenter, 1856 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Umbraculum umbraculum is the only species in its genus. A primitive notaspidean with a large external shell covering the dorsal side. The shell is usually overgrown by encrusting plant and animal organisms. Body circular, bearing large pustules. Even when crawling, the animal does not extend itself; the position of the head can only be determined by the tubular rhinophores projecting from beneath the shell margin. Below these tentacles the body is interrupted by a cleft at the anterior midline, which houses the permanently everted penis and the mouth opening. The radula is very broad and bears numerous small rasping teeth.
The surface of Umbraculum umbraculum is warty. The foot is very large. Colour yellowish or greenish, the shell always overgrown. Because the shell is flat and umbrella-like, this species is commonly known as the umbrella slug, Mediterranean umbrella slug or warty umbrella slug. The shell is extremely reduced, so the animal cannot withdraw into it.
The umbrella slug occurs at depths of 4 to 80 m and has occasionally been recorded deeper. It lives on hard substrates as well as on and in sandy bottoms. It is nocturnal and rests buried in sand during the day.
Umbraculum umbraculum feeds on sponges. Scientific studies and observations show that its main diet consists chiefly of sponges of the following genera and species: Tethya spp. (e.g. golf ball sponges), Aaptos aaptos, Ancorina alata and Plakina trilopha.
Mediterranean, eastern Atlantic, Azores to São Tomé.
Synonymised names
Operculatum aurantium Pease, 1868 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Operculatum bermudense Mörch, 1875 · unaccepted
Parmophorus patelloideus Cantraine, 1835 · unaccepted (synonym)
Patella ombracula Blainville, 1819 · unaccepted
Patella sinica Gmelin, 1791 · unaccepted
Patella umbellata Delle Chiaje, 1830 · unaccepted (synonym)
Patella umbraculum [Lightfoot], 1786 · unaccepted (superseded combination)
Umbraculum bermudense (Mörch, 1875) · unaccepted
Umbraculum botanicum Hedley, 1923 · unaccepted
Umbraculum chinense Schumacher, 1817 · unaccepted
Umbraculum indicum (Lamarck, 1819) · unaccepted
Umbraculum mediterraneum (Lamarck, 1819) · unaccepted
Umbraculum ovale (P. P. Carpenter, 1856) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Umbraculum plicatulum (E. von Martens, 1881) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Umbraculum pulchrum G.-Y. Lin, 1981 · unaccepted
Umbraculum sinicum (Gmelin, 1791) · unaccepted
Umbrella cumingi Deshayes, 1863 · unaccepted
Umbrella indica Lamarck, 1819 · unaccepted
Umbrella lamarckiana Récluz, 1843 · unaccepted (synonym)
Umbrella mediterranea Lamarck, 1819 · unaccepted
Umbrella ovalis P. P. Carpenter, 1856 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
