Three-spot nudibranch

Three-spot nudibranch
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Euctenidiacea
clade Doridacea
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Cadlinidae
Genus: Aldisa
Species: A. trimaculata
Binomial name
Aldisa trimaculata
Gosliner in Millen & Gosliner, 1985

The three-spot nudibranch, scientific name Aldisa trimaculata, is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cadlinidae.

Distribution

This demersal species has so far only been found around the southern African coast, on both sides of the Cape Peninsula, in 10–30 m of water. It may possibly be endemic to that area.[1]

Description

Two of the dotted spots of the three-spot nudibranch

The three-spot nudibranch is a tan-coloured dorid with a warty skin and three brown spots, which are themselves spotted with lighter patches. The animal has eight gills arranged around the anus and its rhinophores are perfoliate. It may reach a total length of 40 mm.[2]

Ecology

This species feeds on sponges.

References

  1. ↑ Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
  2. ↑ Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
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