Cowled nudibranch

cowled nudibranch
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Nudipleura clade Nudibranchia clade Dexiarchia clade Cladobranchia clade Dendronotida
Superfamily:	Tritonioidea
Family:	Tethydidae
Genus:	Melibe
Species:	M. rosea
Binomial name
Melibe rosea Rang, 1829

The cowled nudibranch, scientific name Melibe rosea, is a species of sea slug, a dendronotid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tethydidae.

This species is only found in South Africa.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the South African coast and is found from Port Nolloth to Port Alfred, usually intertidally, but occasionally to 10 m.^[1]

Description

The cowled nudibranch is a white to pinky-red nudibranch distinguished by its large extendable hood. Knobbly paired cerata extend down the margins of the smooth notum. The notum and cerata may have opaque white encrustations. It can grow as large as 50 mm in total length.^[2]

Ecology

The cowled nudibranch feeds on small crustaceans, capturing them with its oral hood.

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