The brush nudibranch, Tritonia sp. 2, as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of dendronotid nudibranch

Nudibranch

A nudibranch is a member of what is now a taxonomic clade, and what was previously a suborder, of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms...

. It is a marine

Marine (ocean)

Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...

 gastropod mollusc in the family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Tritoniidae

Tritoniidae

Tritoniidae are a taxonomic family of dendronotid nudibranchs, marine gastropod molluscs.-Genera:Genera in the family Tritoniidae include:* Marionia Vayssiere, 1877* Trochuina Odhner, 1963* Tritonia Cuvier, 1798* Tritonidoxa Bergh, 1907...

. As at November 2009, it remained undescribed

Undescribed taxon

In taxonomy, an undescribed taxon is a taxon that has been discovered, but not yet formally described and named. The various Nomenclature Codes specify the requirements for a new taxon to be validly described and named. Until such a description has been published, the taxon has no formal or...

 by science.

Distribution

This species has only been found off South Africa, from the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula to Jeffreys Bay, intertidally to 40 m. It appears to be endemic.

Description

The brush nudibranch reaches 50 mm in size. Its body is apricot-coloured with clusters of white spots on its notum. Its short rhinophores extend from cup-like sheaths. It has short paired branching projections down the length of its body. Short branching tentacles extend from the front of its head.

Ecology

The brush nudibranch probably feeds on soft corals. Its egg mass is opaque, white and highly convoluted.