Giraffe spot nudibranch
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia

clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Euctenidiacea

clade Doridacea
Superfamily:
Onchidoridoidea
Family:
Goniodorididae
Genus:
Ancula
Binomial name
Ancula sp.

The giraffe spot nudibranch, Ancula sp., as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species of colourful sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae. As of November 2009, it remained undescribed by science.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the South African coast and is found from the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula to the eastern shore of False Bay in less than 15 m.[1]

Description

The giraffe spot nudibranch is a small (up to 20 mm) white-bodied nudibranch covered with regular brown patches and large annulate rhinophores. Its gills are yellow and brown with paired projections alongside them. Its head has several pale projections.[2]

Ecology

The giraffe spot nudibranch feeds on arborescent bryozoans. Its egg mass is a wavy white ribbon.

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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