Chromodoris africana

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Chromodoris africana
Chromodoris africana.jpg
Chromodoris africana
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Doridina
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Chromodoris
Species:
C. africana
Binomial name
Chromodoris africana
Eliot, 1904

Chromodoris africana, or four-coloured nudibranch, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae. [1] [2]

Contents

Distribution

This species is known from the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean to the southern KwaZulu-Natal coast of South Africa. It is found down to depths of 30m. [3] [4]

Description

This species may grow to 75mm in total length. It is a smooth-bodied nudibranch, with a black ground colour, two white lines running down the notum, which has a white rim, and an orange margin. The gills and rhinophores are yellow to orange. [5]

Ecology

C. africana feeds on sponges. [3] It is known to eat a species of the sponge genus Negombata . [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chromodorididae</span> Family of gastropods

Chromodorididae, or chromodorids, are a taxonomic family of colourful, sea slugs; dorid nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Doridoidea. “Chromodorid nudibranchs are among the most gorgeously coloured of all animals.” The over 360 described species are primarily found in tropical and subtropical waters, as members of coral reef communities, specifically associated with their sponge prey. The chromodorids are the most speciose family of opisthobranchs. They range in size from <10mm to over 30 cm, although most species are approximately 15–30 mm in size.

<i>Chromodoris quadricolor</i> Species of gastropod

Chromodoris quadricolor is a species of very colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusc. The specific epithet quadricolor means four-coloured, so-named because this nudibranch is yellow, white, blue and black in color.

<i>Chromodoris willani</i> Species of gastropod

Chromodoris willani, commonly known as Willan's chromodoris, is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae. The species is named for the renowned nudibranch taxonomist Dr. Richard C. Willan.

<i>Chromodoris annae</i> Species of gastropod

Chromodoris annae is a species of sea slug, a very colourful nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Chromodoris magnifica</i> Species of gastropod

Chromodoris magnifica is a sea slug, a species of nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae. It is the type species of the genus Chromodoris.

<i>Goniobranchus coi</i> Species of gastropod

Goniobranchus coi is a species of very colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Chromodoris elisabethina</i> Species of gastropod

Chromodoris elisabethina is a species of very colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Chromodoris lochi</i> Species of gastropod

Chromodoris lochi, common name Loch's chromodoris, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Chromodoris westraliensis</i> Species of gastropod

Chromodoris westraliensis is a species of very colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Chromodoris dianae</i> Species of gastropod

Chromodoris dianae is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Chromodoris strigata</i> Species of mollusc

Chromodoris strigata, commonly known as the streaked chromodoris, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Chromodoris michaeli</i> Species of gastropod

Chromodoris michaeli is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Hypselodoris pulchella</i> Species of gastropod

Hypselodoris pulchella is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Hypselodoris nigrostriata</i> Species of gastropod

Hypselodoris nigrostriata is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Hypselodoris jacksoni is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Hypselodoris nigrolineata</i> Species of gastropod

Hypselodoris nigrolineata is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Hypselodoris regina</i> Species of gastropod

Hypselodoris regina is a conspicuous species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

<i>Mexichromis pusilla</i> Species of gastropod

Mexichromis pusilla is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Mexichromis similaris is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Mexichromis circumflava is a species of sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

References

  1. Caballer, M. (2015). Chromodoris africana Eliot, 1904. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-12-05
  2. Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (Ed.); Frýda J., Hausdorf B., Ponder W., Valdes A. & Warén A. 2005. Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia: International Journal of Malacology, 47(1-2). ConchBooks: Hackenheim, Germany. ISBN   3-925919-72-4. ISSN 0076-2997. 397 pp.
  3. 1 2 King, D. & Fraser, V. 2001. More Reef Fishes and Nudibranchs Struik, Cape Town. ISBN   1-86872-686-X
  4. Rudman, W.B., 1999 (July 19) Chromodoris africana Eliot, 1904. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  5. Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN   978-1-77007-772-0
  6. Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Oct 3). Comment on Chromodoris africana feeding by Lindsay Warren. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  7. Rudman, W. B. & Bergquist, P. R. (2007) A review of feeding specificity in the sponge-feeding Chromodorididae (Nudibranchia: Mollusca). Molluscan Research, 27(2): 60-88