Gastropods

Description

Luisella babai, also known as the White Flabellina, is a striking nudibranch belonging to the Samlidae family. It reaches a size of up to 40–50 mm and has a translucent white body, giving it an almost glass-like appearance. The species was originally described in 1972 by Luise Schmekel as Flabellina babai and was later reclassified into the new genus Luisella to honor the Japanese malacologist Kikutaro Baba.

Diet

Luisella babai feeds exclusively on hydroids (Hydroida), particularly colonies of the genera Campanularia, Bougainvillia, and Eudendrium.

Lifestyle

• Habitat: It is found in the Mediterranean Sea, inhabiting shallow to subtidal zones, often near hydroid colonies.
• Reproduction: Like many nudibranchs, it is a hermaphrodite.
• Behavior: During mating, the cerata (dorsal appendages) may move vigorously, possibly aiding in sperm transfer.

Fun Facts

• Scientific Classification: Originally placed in the genus Flabellina, it was reclassified into the new family Samlidae and genus Luisella based on molecular phylogeny.
• Name Origin: The species name babai honors Dr. Kikutaro Baba, a pioneer in Japanese opisthobranch research.
• Synonyms: It is also known by the names Flabellina babai or Flabellina blanca (Spanish)