Trapania dalva is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.Rosenberg, G. (2015). Trapania dalva. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-10-17
Distribution This species was first described from Miami, Florida. It has also been reported from the Bahamas.Colin Redfern, 2001. Bahamian Seashells: a Thousand Species from Abaco, Bahamas. BahamianSeashells.com, Inc. Boca Raton, Florida. 280 pages, 106 b/w plates, 18 color plates.
Description This goniodorid nudibranch is cream with brown patches, with white bosses on the body. This appearance with raised tubercles is illustrated in one photograph from Florida.Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Oct 31). Comment on Trapania dalva - juvenile? by Linda Ianniello. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Larger animals have extensive brown patches reminiscent of Trapania brunnea and small raised tubercles. These are thought to be the adult form of this species.Rudman, W.B., 2002 (March 4) Trapania dalva Marcus, 1972. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
The maximum recorded body length is 12 mm.Welch J. J. (2010). "The “Island Rule” and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.
Ecology Minimum recorded depth is 0 m. Maximum recorded depth is 0 m.
Trapania dalva probably feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on sponges, sea squirts and other living substrata.
References