Three-spot nudibranch
Appearance
Three-spot nudibranch | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
(unranked): | clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura |
Superfamily: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | A. trimaculata
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Binomial name | |
Aldisa trimaculata Gosliner in Millen & Gosliner, 1985
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The three-spot nudibranch, scientific name Aldisa trimaculata, is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cadlinidae.
Distribution
This demersal species has so far only been found around the southern African coast, on both sides of the Cape Peninsula, in 10–30 m of water. It may possibly be endemic to that area.[1]
Description
The three-spot nudibranch is a tan-coloured dorid with a warty skin and three brown spots, which are themselves spotted with lighter patches. The animal has eight gills arranged around the anus and its rhinophores are perfoliate. It may reach a total length of 40 mm.[2]
Ecology
This species feeds on sponges.
References
- ^ 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
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dorididae.