Hexabranchidae is a

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

of colourful

nudibranch Nudibranchs () are a group of soft-bodied marine gastropod molluscs, belonging to the order Nudibranchia, that shed their shells after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms, and they have b ...

s (often called "sea slugs") which contains only a single genus, ''Hexabranchus'', with six species. This family is one of the many families of dorid nudibranchs in the suborder Doridina, named after Doris, who was a sea nymph in ancient Greek mythology. The genus contains one of the largest known species of nudibranch in the world, '' H. giganteus'', which grows up to or exceeding 50 cm in length.Tibiriçá, Y.; Pola, M.; Pittman, C.; Gosliner, T. M.; Malaquias, M. A.; Cervera, J. L. (2023). A Spanish dancer? No! A troupe of dancers: a review of the family Hexabranchidae Bergh, 1891 (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Nudibranchia). Organisms Diversity & Evolution. ''Hexabranchus sanguineus'' is known to use

chemical defenses Chemical defense is a strategy employed by many organisms to avoid consumption by producing toxic or repellent metabolites or chemical warnings which incite defensive behavioral changes. The production of defensive chemicals occurs in plants, fung ...

derived from the

sponge Sponges or sea sponges are primarily marine invertebrates of the animal phylum Porifera (; meaning 'pore bearer'), a basal clade and a sister taxon of the diploblasts. They are sessile filter feeders that are bound to the seabed, and a ...

it eats and use the chemical compounds to defend itself from potential fish predators.

Species

There are six species within the genus ''Hexabranchus'': * ''

Hexabranchus aureomarginatus Hexabranchidae is a family of colourful nudibranchs (often called "sea slugs") which contains only a single genus, ''Hexabranchus'', with six species. This family is one of the many families of dorid nudibranchs in the suborder Doridina, named ...

'' Ostergaard, 1955 * ''

Hexabranchus giganteus Hexabranchidae is a family of colourful nudibranchs (often called "sea slugs") which contains only a single genus, ''Hexabranchus'', with six species. This family is one of the many families of dorid nudibranchs in the suborder Doridina, named ...

'' Tibiriçá, Pola & Cervera, 2023 * ''

Hexabranchus lacer Hexabranchidae is a family of colourful nudibranchs (often called "sea slugs") which contains only a single genus, ''Hexabranchus'', with six species. This family is one of the many families of dorid nudibranchs in the suborder Doridina, named ...

'' (Cuvier, 1804) * ''

Hexabranchus morsomus Hexabranchidae is a family of colourful nudibranchs (often called "sea slugs") which contains only a single genus, ''Hexabranchus'', with six species. This family is one of the many families of dorid nudibranchs in the suborder Doridina, named ...

'' Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1962 * ''

Hexabranchus sandwichensis Hexabranchidae is a family of colourful nudibranchs (often called "sea slugs") which contains only a single genus, ''Hexabranchus'', with six species. This family is one of the many families of dorid nudibranchs in the suborder Doridina, named ...

'' Gray, 1850 * '' Hexabranchus sanguineus'' (Ruppell & Leuckart, 1828) - synonym: ''Hexabranchus praetextus'' Ehrenberg, 1828 - type speciesValdés Á. (2002). "How many species of ''Hexabranchus'' (Opisthobranchia : Dorididae) are there?". ''Molluscan Research'' 22(3): 289-301.
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References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2637622