Flabellina capensis
Encyclopedia
The white-edged nudibranch, Flabellina capensis, is a species
of sea slug
, specifically an aeolid
nudibranch
, a very colourful sea slug
. It is a marine
gastropod mollusc in the family
Flabellinidae
.
to Port Elizabeth in 10–30 m of water.
all edged with white. It is usually smaller than 40mm. It has rugose pale rhinophore
s. It has a pair of elongated oral tentacles having an opaque white stripe.
s of the genus Eudendrium. In common with other aeolid nudibranchs, the cerata
of white-edged nudibranch aid in respiration but also contain extensions of the digestive system. The white-edged nudibranch eats the hydroid and passes its nematocyst
s unharmed through its digestive system to the tips of its cerata. Here the nematocysts mature and are then used by the nudibranch for its own defence. It is probable that the bright colours of the white-edged nudibranch serve to advertise to predators that it is toxic.
The white-edged nudibranch is hermaphrodite
. The egg mass is highly convoluted and creamy white.
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 sea slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
, specifically an aeolid
Aeolidioidea
Aeolidioidea is a superfamily of small sea slugs, the aeolid nudibranchs. They are gastropod mollusks.-2005 taxonomy :The superfamily Aeolidioidea consists of the following four families :* Aeolidiidae Gray, 1827* Facelinidae Bergh, 1889* Glaucidae Gray, 1827* Piseinotecidae Edmunds, 1970Synonyms...
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...
, a very colourful sea slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
. 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...
Flabellinidae
Flabellinidae
Flabellinidae is a taxonomic family of brightly-colored sea slugs, specifically nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks.This family has no subfamilies.-Genera and species:Genera and species within the family Flabellinidae include:...
.
Distribution
This species is endemic to the South African coast and is found only from the Atlantic coast of the Cape PeninsulaCape Peninsula
The Cape Peninsula is a generally rocky peninsula that juts out for 75 km into the Atlantic Ocean at the south-western extremity of the African continent. At the southern end of the peninsula are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope...
to Port Elizabeth in 10–30 m of water.
Description
The white-edged nudibranch is a slender pale-bodied aeolid with numerous dark red cerataCerata
Cerata are anatomical structures found in nudibranch sea slugs, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks.They are dorsal and lateral outgrowths on the upper surfaces of the body....
all edged with white. It is usually smaller than 40mm. It has rugose pale rhinophore
Rhinophore
A rhinophore is one of a pair of club-shaped structures which are the most prominent part of the external head anatomy of a group of sea slugs, marine gastropod opisthobranch mollusks in the order Nudibranchia, the nudibranchs, specifically the dorid nudibranchs.- Etymology :The name relates to the...
s. It has a pair of elongated oral tentacles having an opaque white stripe.
Ecology
This aeolid feeds on hydroidHydroid
-Marine biology:Hydroids are a life stage for most animals of class Hydrozoa, small predators related to jellyfish.-Botany:In mosses, hydroids form the innermost layer of the stem of long, colourless, thin walled cells of small diameter.The cells are dead and lack protoplasm.They function as water...
s of the genus Eudendrium. In common with other aeolid nudibranchs, the cerata
Cerata
Cerata are anatomical structures found in nudibranch sea slugs, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks.They are dorsal and lateral outgrowths on the upper surfaces of the body....
of white-edged nudibranch aid in respiration but also contain extensions of the digestive system. The white-edged nudibranch eats the hydroid and passes its nematocyst
Cnidocyte
A cnidocyte, cnidoblast, or nematocyte is a type of venomous cell unique to the phylum Cnidaria . The cnidocyte cell provides a means for them to catch prey and defend themselves from predators. Despite being morphologically simple, lacking a skeleton and usually being sessile, cnidarians prey on...
s unharmed through its digestive system to the tips of its cerata. Here the nematocysts mature and are then used by the nudibranch for its own defence. It is probable that the bright colours of the white-edged nudibranch serve to advertise to predators that it is toxic.
The white-edged nudibranch is hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
. The egg mass is highly convoluted and creamy white.