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.
| Giraffe spot nudibranch | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura |
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| Binomial name | |
| Ancula sp. | |
Distribution
editThis 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
editThe 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
editThe giraffe spot nudibranch feeds on arborescent bryozoans. Its egg mass is a wavy white ribbon.
References
edit- ^ Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
- ^ Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3