Visit Our Diving Center
View our Accommodation
  • Diving
    • Diving Courses
    • Freediving
    • Accompanied Diving
    • Unaccompanied Diving
    • Diving Pricelist
  • Accommodation
  • Special Offers
  • Our Services
  • Dive Sites
  • About Gozo
    • Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Online Shop Dive Checkin
  • EN
    • FR
    • DE
    • IT
    • PL
  • Diving
    • Diving Courses
    • Freediving
    • Accompanied Diving
    • Unaccompanied Diving
    • Diving Pricelist
  • Accommodation
  • Special Offers
  • Our Services
  • Dive Sites
  • About Gozo
    • Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
31. 03. 201819. 07. 2019

Tethys fimbria

Home » Blog » Tethys fimbria
Tethys fimbria

Tethys fimbria is a species of predatory sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk which occurs in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean.  ICZN opinion 200 ruled that Tethys fimbria is a valid name and Tethys leporina Linnaeus, 1758 is a synonym.

Tethys fimbria is the only species in the genus Tethys, which belongs to the family Tethydidae, superfamily Tritonioidea, order Nudibranchia, class Gastropoda, phylum Mollusca and kingdom Animalia.

Tethys, and the closely related genus Melibe, have a large oral hood, used in the capture of food, and a set of prominent cerata down each side of the body.  In Tethys the cerata are smooth, with a pair of small basal gills, while in Melibe the cerata are usually papillate or tuberculate, and there are no basal gills.  Like all members of the family Tethydidae they lack a radula.  Internally, Tethys has no stomach plates, the posterior digestive gland forms a solid mass, surrounded by the gonad, while in Melibe there are a ring of stomach plates, the digestive gland is usually diffuse, branching or broken up some way, and the gonad lies in masses beneath the digestive gland.

The length of the body of Tethys fimbria can reach up to 30 cm.  Its large and broad oral hood in the frontal part of its body is fringed with sensitive papillae.  The rhinophores are small, mainly hidden in the expanded collar of the sheath that surrounds each one.  The large flattened cerata are easily autotomised.  The animal is a translucent white except for the blackish brown spots on the cerata, and sometimes on the edge of the oral hood and the foot.

The cerata can be self-amputated as a defence mechanism when the slug is in danger.  Tethys fimbria is also a good swimmer.

Within the mantle large amounts of prostaglandins are produced.  Subsequently, these prostoglandins are moved to the cerata.

The habitat of Tethys fimbria is soft sandy-mud, at depths varying from 20 to 150 metres.  They feed on small crustaceans, using their broad hood to capture their prey.

The photo of this pair of Tethys fimbria was taken at a depth of 30m at Il-Kantra, on Gozo’s south coast.

Photo taken by Brian Azzopardi

Related posts

Atlantis Boot 2023
22. 12. 202212. 01. 2023

Atlantis Gozo at Boot Dusseldorf 2023

Boot Dusseldorf 2023 Hall 12/A31.8 Once again, Atlantis Gozo will participate with our stand at Boot Dusseldorf starting on 21...

Read More
Merry Christmas
16. 12. 2021

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2022

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2022 Wishing you all the best ! Happy Holidays from the Atlantis Gozo...

Read More
Rebreather Corner - satisfied guests
25. 07. 2021

Latest News July 2021 – Satisfied Guests

Coming across satisfied guests may not be that difficult after all.  Being thanked or rewarded for your efforts is really...

Read More

Reviews

Tolles Center für Sport- Tec und Rebreather Taucher. Bestens zu empfehlen 😃, immer wieder gerne hier 👍.
Manfred Kleemann
Manfred Kleemann
2022-05-23T05:51:17+0000
Our club goes out to Malta/Gozo every year and Atlantis was by far the best centre we have dealt with. The communication building up to the trip was great. So helpful. Our club has a mixed range of diver levels and Atlantis made sure that all our levels was covered. On arrival the welcome was very warming. They couldn’t have been more helpful. Once the admin and kit issue was done we was on our way. The end I’ve every day the team was on hand to assist us making sure we was all prepared for the following day. Nitrox, stages, fills and so on. The end of our trip the staff even came to the apartment to say farewell and seen us off. One of our club members left their regs by mistake but the team contacted us and meet us at the ferry port to return them. Thank you so much!!! We will be returning next year.
Alex Lucas
Alex Lucas
2022-04-21T07:36:58+0000
Highly recommended dive centre! We got all needed services in very friendly atmosphere. Thank you!!
Gedimas Usack
Gedimas Usack
2021-11-27T20:24:01+0000
I did a package deal of 10 dives with Atlantis and was extremely impressed from the get go. The center was very well equipped and maintained and the staff were awesome, totally committed to making sure everyone was welcomed and having fun whilst keeping a high level of professionalism. The guides (Denis, Georgia, Apollo, George) were very knowledgeable and friendly. I highly recommend Atlantis to anyone looking for a solid and trustworthy center with fair prices. P.s. Go in November, its way less busy and the vis is still good!
Jakob Wayne Víkingur Robertson
Jakob Wayne Víkingur Robertson
2021-11-18T01:22:10+0000
awesome place awesome people!
Richard Binks
Richard Binks
2021-10-20T05:07:13+0000
‹
›

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest news and special offers from the Atlantis Gozo Diving team! By doing so you agree to our Privacy Policy

Mailchimp
Sending
  • About Atlantis
    • Careers
    • Affiliates
  • Diving
    • Diving Courses
    • Diving Pricelist
    • PADI Courses
    • CMAS & VDST Courses
    • BSAC Courses
    • Speciality Courses
    • Accompanied Diving
    • Unaccompanied Diving
    • Technical Diving
    • Diving Equipment Rental
    • Freediving
  • Dive Sites
  • Holiday Services
    • Accommodation
    • Airport Transfers
    • Car Hire
    • Tours
  • Special Offers
  • Gozo
  • Gallery
    • Photo Credits
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023 Atlantis Diving Center. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Refund Policy

Website designed & developed by