Dennis Rabeling, Lanzarote, Kanarischen Inseln
Info
Elysia manriquei Ortea & Moro, 2009
Elysia manriquei is perfectly camouflaged on its known food algae Caulerpa chemnitzia (Esper) J.V.Lamouroux, 1809 and Caulerpa webbiana Montagne, 1837 is this small sap sucker, which could be the reason why the species was not detected around the flower island Madeira until recently.
The species is probably endemic to Madeira and the Canary Islands, highlighting the close biogeographic relationship between these two areas; on the other hand, Caulerpa webbiana was introduced and is spreading in the Azores archipelago; it might be worth looking for Elysia manriquei there.
Etymology:
Named after César Manrique, the famous son of Lanzarote, pioneer in the defense of what is now called sustainable development, and an example of the struggle to preserve the harmony of the landscape as one of its elements.
Elysia manriquei is perfectly camouflaged on its known food algae Caulerpa chemnitzia (Esper) J.V.Lamouroux, 1809 and Caulerpa webbiana Montagne, 1837 is this small sap sucker, which could be the reason why the species was not detected around the flower island Madeira until recently.
The species is probably endemic to Madeira and the Canary Islands, highlighting the close biogeographic relationship between these two areas; on the other hand, Caulerpa webbiana was introduced and is spreading in the Azores archipelago; it might be worth looking for Elysia manriquei there.
Etymology:
Named after César Manrique, the famous son of Lanzarote, pioneer in the defense of what is now called sustainable development, and an example of the struggle to preserve the harmony of the landscape as one of its elements.
