| Ancula pacifica | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Family: | Goniodorididae |
| Genus: | Ancula |
| Species: | A. pacifica |
| Binomial name | |
| Ancula pacifica MacFarland, 1905 [1] | |
| Synonyms | |
? Ancula gibbosa Risso, 1818 | |
Ancula pacifica is a species of sea slugs, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae .
This species was first described from Monterey Bay, California.
This goniodorid nudibranch is translucent white in color with orange lines on the body. There is a mid dorsal line and lines along the pallial margin, which may be continuous or interrupted. The pre-rhinophoral papillae and gills are tipped with orange and there is a line of orange pigment along the ridge of the tail. There are 4-14 club-shaped extra-branchial papillae which are translucent white with orange or yellow tips. Small papillae with orange tips typically occur between larger papillae with pale yellow tips. [2] Individuals without the lines on the body occur in some populations. Although currently considered to be a synonym of the European species Ancula gibbosa there are significant differences in color and shape of the extra-branchial papillae and this is probably a distinct species.
Ancula pacifica probably feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on hydroids, bryozoa and other living substrata.