Melanochlamys droupadi

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) unveils a new marine species of head-shield sea slug discovered off the West Bengal and Odisha coast.

About Melanochlamys droupadi:

• The species is named after the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and belongs to the Melanochlamys genus.

Distinctive Features:

• Short, blunt, cylindrical body.
• Smooth dorsal surface with two dorsal shields named the anterior cephalic and posterior shield.
• Hermaphroditic nature.
  • Hermaphroditism is a condition where an organism has both male and female reproductive organs and can perform both parts of reproduction.
• Maximum length up to 7 mm.
• Brownish black with a unique ruby red spot in the hind end.
• Shell inside the body.

Habitat and Behavior:

• Typically found in the intertidal zone, leaving crawl marks on sandy beaches.
• Reproduction period observed between November and January.

Distribution:

• The Melanochlamys genus is generally present in the temperate regions of the Indo-Pacific Oceanic realm.
• Noteworthy tropical species include Melanochlamys papillata from the Gulf of Thailand, Melanochlamys Bengalensis (from West Bengal and Odisha coast), and the newly discovered Melanochlamys Droupadi.

Scientific Insights:

• Live Melanochlamys Droupadi secretes transparent mucus, forming a protective sheath against sand grains.
• Unique behavior of crawling beneath smooth sand, creating a moving capsule where the body is rarely visible.

Ref:Source