Dakaria subovoidea (blood moss bug)

Japanese: チゴケムシ(血苔虫) - チゴケムシ（英語表記）Dakaria subovoidea

This is an exoprocta of the family Pycnonotidae. It is found along the coasts of Japan and forms disc-shaped or pleated colonies, usually 3-8cm in size, on rocks or shells in the intertidal zone, but does not adhere closely to the attachment substrate. It is so named because the entire colony is dark red. Each chamber is small and rectangular, with a raised edge at the boundary with other chambers. The surface is densely covered with round holes, and the edges can sometimes be mesh-like. There is a large mouth at the front end of the chamber, which is horizontally elliptical with a semicircular indentation at the lower edge, and the palate is black with opposing pale-colored circular areas.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ヒラコケムシ科の外肛動物。日本各地の沿岸に分布し，潮間帯の岩石や貝殻の上に円盤状やひだ状のふつう3～8cmの群体をつくるが，付着基盤とは密着しない。全体が暗赤色をしているためこの名がある。おのおのの虫室は小さい長方形で，他虫室との境界は隆起した縁になっている。表面には丸い穴が密にあって縁辺が網目状になることもある。虫室の前端には大きな口があるが，半円形の下縁湾入のある横楕円形で，口蓋は黒く，淡色の円形域が対在する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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