The inkspot nudibranch, Ceratosoma ingozi, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae. [2]
| Inkspot nudibranch | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Family: | Chromodorididae |
| Genus: | Ceratosoma |
| Species: | C. ingozi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ceratosoma ingozi | |
Distribution
editThis species has so far only been found around the southern African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth in 15–108 m of water. It is probably endemic.[3]
Description
editThe length of this marine species attains 80 mm.[4]
The inkspot nudibranch is a deep-bodied dorid with a smooth skin and bluish-edged purple spots. It has creamy gills and rhinophores. Its body colour varies from a creamy yellow through pinks to purples. It may reach a total length of 80 mm.[5][6]
Distinguishing features
editIt is bright orange in color with distinct, darker spots edged in blue, varying from dark red to black or brown. The body is club-shaped with a dorsal frill. When in water, creamy rhinophores (chemosensory tentacles) and a dorsal gill rosette are visible. Its color is bright orange with distinct bluish edged darker spots ranging in colour from dark red to black or brown.[4]
Ecology
editThis species feeds on sponges. Its egg ribbon is a stiff collar of large yellow-orange eggs.
References
edit- ^ Gosliner, T. M. (1996). Phylogeny of Ceratosoma (Nudibranchia: Chromodorididae), with descriptions of two new species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 49(3): 115–126.
- ^ Ceratosoma ingozi Gosliner, 1996. 30 October 2024. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
- ^ Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
- ^ a b Herbert, D.G., Jones, G.J. & Atkinson, L.J. (2018). Phylum Mollusca. In: Atkinson, L.J. and Sink, K.J. (eds) Field Guide to the Offshore Marine Invertebrates of South Africa. Pretoria: Malachite Marketing and Media. p. 289. doi:10.15493/SAEON.PUB.10000001. ISBN 978-1-86868-098-6. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
- ^ Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
- ^ Rudman, W.B., 2005 (January 28) Ceratosoma ingozi Gosliner, 1996. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
- Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007). Nudibranchs of the world. Frankfurt: ConchBooks. pp. 1–360. ISBN 978-3-939767-06-0.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Gosliner, T.; et al. (2023). Southern African Sea Slugs. Cape Town: Southern Underwater Research Group Press. p. 340.
External links
edit- Gosliner, T.M. (1996). "Phylogeny of Ceratosoma (Nudibranchia: Chromodorididae), with descriptions of two new species". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 49 (3): 115–126.
- Johnson R.F. & Gosliner T.M. (2012). "Traditional taxonomic groupings mask evolutionary history: A molecular phylogeny and new classification of the chromodorid nudibranchs". PLoS ONE. 7 (4).
