Description
The body is elongated and oblong-elliptical. The length of the body is usually about 20 mm, but the largest reported size of the body is 50 mm. Lengths of a species with a total lengthth of 31.7 mm are as follows: 17.7 mm is the body to the tip of cerata, the length of the foot is 14.4 mm, the tail at the end of the foot is 14 mm. The head and body ranges from white to brown or purple depending on its food. The foot is long and lanceolate, rounded in front and produced into a fine point behind. The margin of the foot is thin, fringed and crumpled, except near the head, where it is simple. It is divided in front, but not produced.
The cerata are numerous, elongated, with a membranous fringe on the inner sides. Cerata may seem to be without apparent order but they are set in oblique rows containing from four to six cerata. There are also small cerata near the margins of the body. Cerata on the sides of the back are dark brown, each margined with white. The cerata have no cnidosacs. They are particularly compressed towards the base.
Fiona pinnata has no eyes.
The rhinophores are simple and resemble the oral tentacles. They are distant, subulate, tapering and they project outward. They are not retractile, and are without pockets.
The oral tentacles are shorter, thickened at the base, tapering, projecting laterally and horizontally and curved backward. The mouth is situated on the inferior surface of the head. The mouth is small and the external lip is divided behind on the median line.
The anus is between the cerata on the right side of the body, and its opening is directing dorsally. The genital opening is separate.
Joshua Alder and Albany Hancock (1851) described the tissues of Fiona pinnata as being very tough and firm.
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