Inkspot nudibranch

Inkspot nudibranch Ceratosoma ingozi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Nudipleura clade Nudibranchia clade Euctenidiacea clade Doridacea
Superfamily:	Doridoidea
Family:	Chromodorididae
Genus:	Ceratosoma
Species:	C. ingozi
Binomial name
Ceratosoma ingozi Gosliner, 1996

The inkspot nudibranch, Ceratosoma ingozi, is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

Distribution

This species has so far only been found around the southern African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth in 15-40 m of water. It is probably endemic.^[1]

Description

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.^[2]

Ecology

This species feeds on sponges. Its egg ribbon is a stiff collar of large yellow-orange eggs.

References

1. ^ Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
2. ^ Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3

External links