Elysia crispata Mörch, 1863

47. Elysia crispata Mörch, 1863 View in CoL

( Figure 3 View FIGURE 3. A F)

Material examined. TT, 1 spc., H = 23 mm, IVICCM000099. WYL, 1 spc., H = 23 mm, IVICCM000100. LMD, 1 spc., H = 30 mm, IVICCM000115. PPD, 1 spc., H = 7 mm, IVICCM000004. DCH, 3 spcs, H = 40–50 mm, IVICCM000106. DMR, 2 spcs, H = 25–85 mm, IVICCM0000010. PAM, 3 spcs, H = 20–30 mm, IVICCM000160. EYL, 2 spcs, H = 20–30 mm, ZMBN 84909. OLM, 6 spcs, ZMBN 84929. APV, 10 spcs, H = 15–26 mm, IVICCM000071. CBM, 15 spcs, H = 7–28 mm, NRC. CMM, 8 spcs, H = 7–22 mm, NRC. SLR, 22 spcs, H = 2–29 mm, NRC. CSM, 50 spcs, H = 4–31 mm, NRC. NPM, 3 spcs, H = 15–18 mm, NRC. APV, 7 spcs, H = 11–22 mm, NRC. PNM, 1 spc., PNC.

Ecology. Crawling on rocks on reef fringe and inside mangrove lagoons ( 0.5–1 m) on Thalassia spp. and mangrove roots.

Distribution. ABC Islands, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, St. Martin / St. Maarten, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, USA, Virgin Islands, Venezuela ( Marcus 1957; Marcus & Marcus 1960; Marcus & Marcus 1962; Marcus & Marcus 1970; Marcus & Hughes 1974; Marcus 1977; Thompson 1977; Gavagnin et al. 2000; Valdés et al. 2006. Dos Mosquises, Los Roques, South Island: Marcus & Marcus 1967a. Los Roques: Work 1969. Mochima: Gavagnin et al. 1996; 1997. Golfo de Cariaco, Sucre: Fernandez & Jimenez 2007).

Remarks. This species was abundant in all sampling sites both on reef and mangrove environments. According to Valdés et al. (2006) feeds upon Caulerpa sertularioides , but its diet likely encompasses a broader range of items since Caulerpa was not always present on the areas where the species was observed. Marcus & Marcus (1967a) record this species on the hard coral Acropora . Gavagnin et al. (1996; 1997) refer the presence of protective chemicals against sunlight in specimens from Mochima, Venezuela.