Melibe
| Melibe | |
|---|---|
| Melibe viridis, anterior end at the front with the large rounded oral hood | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Dendronotacea |
| Family: | Tethydidae |
| Genus: | Melibe Rang, 1829 |
| Species | |
|
17 species (see text) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Melibe is a genus of sea slugs, nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Tethydidae.
Most nudibranchs are carnivores, but their prey is usually sessile or slow-moving animals such as sponges or bryozoans. In contrast, Melibe is an active predator which traps fast-moving free-swimming animals such as small crustaceans, using its extendable oral hood. [1]