The purple lady nudibranch, Paraflabellina funeka, is a species of aeolid nudibranch, and is a very colourful sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Flabellinidae.[3]
| Purple lady Paraflabellina funeka | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura |
| Superfamily: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | P. funeka
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| Binomial name | |
| Paraflabellina funeka | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Distribution
editThis species is endemic to the South African coast and is found only from Cape Point to Port Elizabeth[4] in 5–30 m of water.[5]
Description
edit
The purple lady is a slender purple-bodied aeolid with red cerata having white tips. It is usually smaller than 45 mm. It has annulate purple rhinophores with pale tips. It has a pair of pale-tipped oral tentacles which are shorter than the rhinophores.[2] It may also be seen in a white-bodied form, but the red cerata and annulate rhinophores are distinctive.[6]
Ecology
editThis aeolid feeds on hydroids of the genus Eudendrium.[4] In common with other aeolid nudibranchs, the cerata of the purple lady aid in respiration but also contain extensions of the digestive system. The purple lady eats the hydroid and passes its nematocysts unharmed through its digestive system to the tips of its cerata. Here the nematocysts mature and are then used by the nudibranch for its own defence. It is probable that the bright colours of the purple lady serve to advertise to predators that it is toxic.
Despite their common name, purple ladies are hermaphrodites. Their egg mass is highly convoluted and white.
References
edit- ^ a b MolluscaBase (2018). Paraflabellina funeka (Gosliner & Griffiths, 1981). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1048138 on 2018-03-23
- ^ a b Gosliner, T. M. and Griffiths, R. J. 1981. Description and revision of some South African aeolidacean Nudibranchia (Mollusca, Gastropoda). Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 84(2):105-150.
- ^ Rosenberg, G. (2012). Flabellina funeka. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-05-16
- ^ a b 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
- ^ Rudman, W.B., 2005 (January 28) Flabellina funeka Gosliner & Griffiths, 1981. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.