Inkspot nudibranch

The inkspot nudibranch, Ceratosoma ingozi, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.[2]

Inkspot nudibranch
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Doridina
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Ceratosoma
Species:
C. ingozi
Binomial name
Ceratosoma ingozi
Gosliner, 1996[1]

Distribution

This species has so far only been found around the southern African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth in 15–40 m of water. It is probably endemic.[3]

Description

The inkspot nudibranch is a deep-bodied dorid with a smooth skin and bluish-edged purple spots. It has creamy gills and rhinophores. Its body colour varies from a creamy yellow through pinks to purples. It may reach a total length of 80 mm.[4][5]

Ecology

This species feeds on sponges. Its egg ribbon is a stiff collar of large yellow-orange eggs.

References

  1. Gosliner, T. M. (1996). Phylogeny of Ceratosoma (Nudibranchia: Chromodorididae), with descriptions of two new species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 49(3): 115–126.
  2. MolluscaBase (2018). Ceratosoma ingozi Gosliner, 1996. Accessed on 2018-12-01.
  3. Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
  4. Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
  5. Rudman, W.B., 2005 (January 28) Ceratosoma ingozi Gosliner, 1996. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.