Nembrotha chamberlaini
Encyclopedia
Nembrotha chamberlaini is a species
of colorful sea slug
, a dorid nudibranch
, a marine
gastropod mollusk in the family Polyceridae
. It was first described in 1997.
and Indonesia
. http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=nembcham
Nembrotha chamberlaini is easily confused with Nembrotha aurea and Nembrotha purpureolineata
. All three species have a similar range of color variation although N. aurea often has orange patches not present in Nembrotha chamberlaini.
N. chamberlaini can reach a length of 100mm.
s. It has been seen feeding on the bright-blue ascidian, Rhopalaea sp, as well as other ascidians Clavelina sp., & Oxycorynia sp.
.
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 colorful 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...
, a dorid 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 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 mollusk in the family Polyceridae
Polyceridae
Polyceridae is a taxonomic family of sea slugs, dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks within the Superfamily Polyceroidea.- Taxonomy :...
. It was first described in 1997.
Distribution
This species is known only from the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=nembcham
Description
Nembrotha chamberlaini is white with streaks of black and occasionally yellow splashed across the upper mantle. It has very distinctive bright red gills and rhinophores. The foot and mouth parts are typically light-purple. This nudibranch has a very characteristic color pattern which is typical of species that display warning coloration to other species.Nembrotha chamberlaini is easily confused with Nembrotha aurea and Nembrotha purpureolineata
Nembrotha purpureolineata
Nembrotha purpureolineata is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Polyceridae. Nembrotha rutilans, classified as a separate species until 2008, has now been reclassified as Nembrotha purpureolineata.-Taxonomy:Nembrotha purpureolineata was...
. All three species have a similar range of color variation although N. aurea often has orange patches not present in Nembrotha chamberlaini.
N. chamberlaini can reach a length of 100mm.
Ecology
This species feeds on ascidians and tunicateTunicate
Tunicates, also known as urochordates, are members of the subphylum Tunicata, previously known as Urochordata, a group of underwater saclike filter feeders with incurrent and excurrent siphons that is classified within the phylum Chordata. While most tunicates live on the ocean floor, others such...
s. It has been seen feeding on the bright-blue ascidian, Rhopalaea sp, as well as other ascidians Clavelina sp., & Oxycorynia sp.
.