Chromodoris africana

Chromodoris africana
Chromodoris africana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Chromodoris
Species: C. africana
Binomial name
Chromodoris africana
Eliot, 1904

Chromodoris africana, or four-coloured nudibranch, is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.[1]

Distribution

This species is known from the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean to the southern KwaZulu-Natal coast of South Africa. It is found down to 30m.[2][3]

Description

This species may grow to 75mm in total length. It is a smooth-bodied nudibranch, with a black ground colour, two pale blue lines running down the notum, which has a white rim, and an orange margin. The gills and rhinophores are yellow to orange.[4]

Ecology

C. africana feeds on sponges.[2] It is known to eat a species of the sponge genus Negombata.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (Ed.); Frýda J., Hausdorf B., Ponder W., Valdes A. & Warén A. 2005. Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia: International Journal of Malacology, 47(1-2). ConchBooks: Hackenheim, Germany. ISBN 3-925919-72-4. ISSN 0076-2997. 397 pp. http://www.vliz.be/Vmdcdata/imis2/ref.php?refid=78278
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 King, D. & Fraser, V. 2001. More Reef Fishes and Nudibranchs Struik, Cape Town. ISBN 1-86872-686-X
  3. ↑ Rudman, W.B., 1999 (July 19) Chromodoris africana Eliot, 1904. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  4. ↑ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
  5. ↑ Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Oct 3). Comment on Chromodoris africana feeding by Lindsay Warren. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney
  6. ↑ Rudman, W. B. & Bergquist, P. R. (2007) A review of feeding specificity in the sponge-feeding Chromodorididae (Nudibranchia: Mollusca). Molluscan Research, 27(2): 60-88