Ancula kariyana is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.

Ancula kariyana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Superfamily: Onchidoridoidea
Family: Goniodorididae
Genus: Ancula
Species:
A. kariyana
Binomial name
Ancula kariyana
Baba, 1990[1]

Distribution

edit

This species was first described from Japan.

Description

edit

This goniodorid nudibranch is translucent white in colour with brown spots and patches. The pre-rhinophoral papillae and gills are tipped with yellow and there is a line of white pigment with diffuse edges along the ridge of the tail. The front of the rhinophores is brown and the tips are white. There are two long extra-branchial papillae which are translucent white with some yellow and brown streaks on their upper surfaces.[2]

Ecology

edit

Ancula kariyana probably feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on hydroids, bryozoa and other living substrata.

References

edit
  1. ^ Baba, K. 1990. Notes on the rare genera Trapania and Ancula from Japan with the description of a new species (Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae). Venus, Japanese Journal of Malacology 49(1):8-18.
  2. ^ Ancula kariyana [at] Sea Slug picture site (Japanese)