Aegires ninguis

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Knobbly nudibranch
Aegires ninguis
Aegris sp. 001.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Euctenidiacea
clade Doridacea
Superfamily:
Polyceroidea
Family:
Aegiridae
Genus:
Aegires
Species:
A. ninguis
Binomial name
Aegires ninguis
Fahey & Gosliner, 2004 [1]

The knobbly nudibranch, Aegires ninguis, is a species of dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aegiridae. [2]

In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. Other ways of defining species include their karyotype, DNA sequence, morphology, behaviour or ecological niche. In addition, paleontologists use the concept of the chronospecies since fossil reproduction cannot be examined.

Doridacea infraorder of molluscs

Doridacea is a taxonomic grouping of dorid nudibranchs, shell-less marine gastropod mollusks. included in the clade Euctenidiacea of the clade Nudibranchia.

Nudibranch order of molluscs

Nudibranchs are a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms, and they have been given colourful nicknames to match, such as "clown," "marigold," "splendid," "dancer," "dragon," or "sea rabbit." Currently, about 3,000 valid species of nudibranchs are known.

Contents

Distribution

This species is found off the South African coast from the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth. It is found from the intertidal to at least 30 m. It is endemic. [3]

Endemism Ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location or habitat

Endemism is the ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation, country or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. The extreme opposite of endemism is cosmopolitan distribution. An alternative term for a species that is endemic is precinctive, which applies to species that are restricted to a defined geographical area.

Description

The knobbly nudibranch is a small (up to 15 mm) white-bodied dorid with numerous knobbles projecting from its body. Its rhinophores emerge from knobbled sheaths. [4]

Rhinophore

A rhinophore is one of a pair of chemosensory club-shaped, rod-shaped or ear-like structures which are the most prominent part of the external head anatomy in sea slugs, marine gastropod opisthobranch mollusks such as the nudibranchs (Nudibranchia), Sea Hares, (Aplysiomorpha) and sap-sucking sea slugs (Sacoglossa).

Ecology

This species may feed on encrusting sponges.

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References

  1. ↑ Fahey S. J. & Gosliner T. M. (2004). "A Phylogenetic Analysis of the Aegiridae Fischer, 1883 (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Phanerobranchia) with Descriptions of Eight New Species and a Reassessment of Phanerobranch Relationships". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 55(34): 613-689. PDF.
  2. ↑ Gofas, S. (2015). Aegires ninguis Fahey & Gosliner, 2004. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-01-07
  3. ↑ Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN   0-930118-13-8
  4. ↑ ZSILAVECZ, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN   0-620-38054-3
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