The family Tergipedidae
contains mostly tiny species with patchy distributions. So, many are
seldom seen and poorly known even though some of them are among the
most
colorful aeolids. Most feed on hydroids and store nematocysts in
cnidosacs at the tips of their cerata. However, some, particularly in
the genus Phestilla, feed on
scleractinian corals and do not have cnidosacs. Many species also
secrete defensive chemicals from glands in their cerata. This is
particularly prominent in Phestilla
where it may compensate for the lack of nematocysts. There are at least
29 species known from Hawaii in at least five genera (Catriona, Cuthona, Fiona, Phestilla and Tergipes). The family was recently
revised to include the family Fionidae. (Gosliner, et. al., 2008)
Unidentified
aeolid #21 may also be in this family.
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