| Coryphellina rubrolineata | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Aeolidacea |
| Family: | Flabellinidae |
| Genus: | Coryphellina |
| Species: | C. rubrolineata |
| Binomial name | |
| Coryphellina rubrolineata O'Donoghue, 1929 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Coryphellina rubrolineata is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine heterobranch mollusc in the family Flabellinidae.
Coryphellina rubrolineata is a relatively large aeolid nudibranch growing to 42 mm in length. The stretched out body has a sharp end at the tail, the dorsal side is covered with a certain amount of extensions called cerata, which size vary from an animal to another. The rhinophores are pointed and look like feathers. The oral tentacles are thin, cylindrical and longer than the rhinophores. The coloration is variable and here's a description for the two main coloration which can be easily met underwater:
Many colour variations exist and it is likely that this species is really a species complex.
This species was described from the Red Sea. Coryphellina rubrolineata is thought to be widespread in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters in the Indo-Pacific area and also as a migrant species in the Mediterranean Sea. It is also commonly observed on shallow reef or rocky slopes rich in hydroids which represent its main diet.
Like mainly all aeolids, Coryphellina rubrolineata has the ability to store the stinging cells from cnidarians eaten. This stinging cells stock is a particularly effective means of defense and is located at the ends of cerata, it is contained in cnidosacs.