Coral nudibranch | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
(unranked): | clade
Heterobranchia
clade
Euthyneura |
Superfamily: | |
Family: | |
Subfamily: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | P. horridum
|
Binomial name | |
Phyllodesmium horridum | |
Synonyms | |
|
Phyllodesmium horridum, the coral nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.
This species is found around the South African coast from False Bay to Sodwana Bay, intertidally to at least 30 m. [2] It has been erroneously reported from Australia and Japan due to confusion with Phyllodesmium serratum.
Around the South African coast, the coral nudibranch is typically between 30 and 40 mm [3] in total length. It is a slender pale-bodied aeolid with long paired pinkish cerata. The cerata have a bluish-white stripe running down their length, as does the body. The rhinophores are smooth. This species contains no zooxanthellae. [4]
Phyllodesmium horridum feeds on sea fans ( gorgonians) of the genus Melitodes (family Melithaeidae). [2] It has also been reported to feed on gorgonians of the genus, Acabaria (also family Melithaeidae). [5] The egg ribbon is a gelatinous mass with many small white eggs. [6]
Coral nudibranch | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
(unranked): | clade
Heterobranchia
clade
Euthyneura |
Superfamily: | |
Family: | |
Subfamily: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | P. horridum
|
Binomial name | |
Phyllodesmium horridum | |
Synonyms | |
|
Phyllodesmium horridum, the coral nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.
This species is found around the South African coast from False Bay to Sodwana Bay, intertidally to at least 30 m. [2] It has been erroneously reported from Australia and Japan due to confusion with Phyllodesmium serratum.
Around the South African coast, the coral nudibranch is typically between 30 and 40 mm [3] in total length. It is a slender pale-bodied aeolid with long paired pinkish cerata. The cerata have a bluish-white stripe running down their length, as does the body. The rhinophores are smooth. This species contains no zooxanthellae. [4]
Phyllodesmium horridum feeds on sea fans ( gorgonians) of the genus Melitodes (family Melithaeidae). [2] It has also been reported to feed on gorgonians of the genus, Acabaria (also family Melithaeidae). [5] The egg ribbon is a gelatinous mass with many small white eggs. [6]