| Fiery nudibranch Okenia amoenula |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura |
| Superfamily: | Onchidoridoidea |
| Family: | Goniodorididae |
| Genus: | Okenia |
| Species: | O. amoenula |
| Binomial name | |
| Okenia amoenula (Bergh, 1907) |
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The fiery nudibranch, Okenia amoenula is a species of colourful sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.
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This species is endemic to the South African coast and is found from the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth intertidally to at least 30 m.[1]
The fiery nudibranch is a small (up to 20 mm) smooth-bodied nudibranch which is often overlooked until its egg ribbons are seen. It is then often noticed in groups. It has a pale body streaked with orange and a margin characterised by yellow-orange tipped fingerlike projections which resemble flames. The rhinophores are white and the gills are orange-striped.[2]
The fiery nudibranch is often found on bryozoans. Its egg mass is a sprawling white curl of several turns.