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Inkspot nudibranch

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Inkspot nudibranch
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Ceratosoma
Species:
C. ingozi
Binomial name
Ceratosoma ingozi

The inkspot nudibranch, Ceratosoma ingozi, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae. [2]

Distribution

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This species has so far only been found around the southern African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth in 15–108 m of water. It is probably endemic.[3]

Description

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The length of this marine species attains 80 mm.[4]

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.[5][6]

Distinguishing features

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It is bright orange in color with distinct, darker spots edged in blue, varying from dark red to black or brown. The body is club-shaped with a dorsal frill. When in water, creamy rhinophores (chemosensory tentacles) and a dorsal gill rosette are visible. Its color is bright orange with distinct bluish edged darker spots ranging in colour from dark red to black or brown.[4]

Ecology

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

References

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  1. ^ Gosliner, T. M. (1996). Phylogeny of Ceratosoma (Nudibranchia: Chromodorididae), with descriptions of two new species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 49(3): 115–126.
  2. ^ Ceratosoma ingozi Gosliner, 1996. 30 October 2024. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
  3. ^ Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
  4. ^ a b Herbert, D.G., Jones, G.J. & Atkinson, L.J. (2018). Phylum Mollusca. In: Atkinson, L.J. and Sink, K.J. (eds) Field Guide to the Offshore Marine Invertebrates of South Africa. Pretoria: Malachite Marketing and Media. p. 289. doi:10.15493/SAEON.PUB.10000001. ISBN 978-1-86868-098-6. Retrieved 26 October 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
  5. ^ Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
  6. ^ Rudman, W.B., 2005 (January 28) Ceratosoma ingozi Gosliner, 1996. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  • Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007). Nudibranchs of the world. Frankfurt: ConchBooks. pp. 1–360. ISBN 978-3-939767-06-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Gosliner, T.; et al. (2023). Southern African Sea Slugs. Cape Town: Southern Underwater Research Group Press. p. 340.
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