Biology:Phyllodesmium horridum
| Coral nudibranch | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura clade Nudipleura clade Nudibranchia clade Dexiarchia clade Cladobranchia clade Aeolidida |
| Superfamily: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | Favorininae
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| Genus: | |
| Species: | P. horridum
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| Binomial name | |
| Phyllodesmium horridum (Macnae, 1954)[1]
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| Synonyms | |
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Phyllodesmium horridum, the coral nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.
Distribution
This species is found around the South African coast from False Bay to Sodwana Bay, intertidally to at least 30 m.[2] It has been erroneously reported from Australia and Japan due to confusion with Phyllodesmium serratum.
Description
Around the South African coast, the coral nudibranch is typically between 30 and 40 mm[3] in total length. It is a slender pale-bodied aeolid with long paired pinkish cerata. The cerata have a bluish-white stripe running down their length, as does the body. The rhinophores are smooth. This species contains no zooxanthellae.[4]
Ecology
Phyllodesmium horridum feeds on sea fans (gorgonians) of the genus Melitodes (family Melithaeidae).[2] It has also been reported to feed on gorgonians of the genus, Acabaria (also family Melithaeidae).[5] The egg ribbon is a gelatinous mass with many small white eggs.[6]
References
- ↑ Macnae, W. , 1954. On some eolidacean nudibranchiate molluscs from South Africa. Annals of the Natal Museum, 13: 1-50 .
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gosliner T. M. (1987). Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN:0-930118-13-8
- ↑ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN:978-1-77007-772-0
- ↑ Rudman, W.B., 2001 (August 9) Phyllodesmium horridum (Macnae, 1954). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
- ↑ Rudman W.B. (1991) Further studies on the taxonomy and biology of the octocoral-feeding genus Phyllodesmium Ehrenberg, 1831 (Nudibranchia: Aeolidoidea). Journal of Molluscan Studies 57: 167-203
- ↑ Zsilavecz G. (2007). Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN:0-620-38054-3
Wikidata ☰ Q7188799 entry
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