Chromodoris africana, or four-coloured nudibranch, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.[1][2]
| Chromodoris africana | |
|---|---|
| |
| Chromodoris africana | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Family: | Chromodorididae |
| Genus: | Chromodoris |
| Species: | C. africana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Chromodoris africana Eliot, 1904
| |
Distribution
editThis species is known from the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean to the southern KwaZulu-Natal coast of South Africa. It is found down to depths of 30m.[3][4]
Description
editThis species may grow to 75mm in total length. It is a smooth-bodied nudibranch, with a black ground colour, two white lines running down the notum, which has a white rim, and an orange margin. The gills and rhinophores are yellow to orange.[5]
Ecology
editC. africana feeds on sponges.[3] It is known to eat a species of the sponge genus Negombata.[6][7]
References
edit- ^ Caballer, M. (2015). Chromodoris africana Eliot, 1904. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-12-05
- ^ Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (Ed.); Frýda J., Hausdorf B., Ponder W., Valdes A. & Warén A. 2005. Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia: International Journal of Malacology, 47(1-2). ConchBooks: Hackenheim, Germany. ISBN 3-925919-72-4. ISSN 0076-2997. 397 pp.
- ^ a b King, D. & Fraser, V. 2001. More Reef Fishes and Nudibranchs Struik, Cape Town. ISBN 1-86872-686-X
- ^ Rudman, W.B., 1999 (July 19) Chromodoris africana Eliot, 1904. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
- ^ 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., 2005 (Oct 3). Comment on Chromodoris africana feeding by Lindsay Warren. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
- ^ Rudman, W. B. & Bergquist, P. R. (2007) A review of feeding specificity in the sponge-feeding Chromodorididae (Nudibranchia: Mollusca). Molluscan Research, 27(2): 60-88