| Purple lady Paraflabellina funeka | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura ContentsAeolidida |
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| Genus: | |
| Species: | P. funeka |
| Binomial name | |
| Paraflabellina funeka | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
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The purple lady nudibranch, Paraflabellina funeka, is a species of aeolid nudibranch, and is a very colourful sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Flabellinidae. [3]
This species is endemic to the South African coast and is found only from Cape Point to Port Elizabeth [4] in 5–30 m of water. [5]
The purple lady is a slender purple-bodied aeolid with red cerata having white tips. It is usually smaller than 45 mm. It has annulate purple rhinophores with pale tips. It has a pair of pale-tipped oral tentacles which are shorter than the rhinophores. [2] It may also be seen in a white-bodied form, but the red cerata and annulate rhinophores are distinctive. [6]
This aeolid feeds on hydroids of the genus Eudendrium . [4] In common with other aeolid nudibranchs, the cerata of the purple lady aid in respiration but also contain extensions of the digestive system. The purple lady eats the hydroid and passes its nematocysts 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 purple lady serve to advertise to predators that it is toxic.
Despite their common name, purple ladies are hermaphrodites. Their egg mass is highly convoluted and white.
The white-edged nudibranch, Coryphella capensis, previously known as Fjordia capensis, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch, a colourful sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Coryphellidae.
Trinchesia speciosa, common name the "candy nudibranch", is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trinchesiidae.
Flabellina is a genus of sea slugs, specifically aeolid nudibranchs. These animals are marine gastropod molluscs in the family Flabellinidae.
The black-dot nudibranch, Caloria sp. 1, as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch. They are marine gastropod molluscs in the family Facelinidae.
The yellow-tipped nudibranch, Caloria sp. 2, as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.
Cratena capensis, the orange-eyed nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.
Pteraeolidia ianthina is a sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch in the family Facelinidae. It is known as a blue dragon, a name it shares with Glaucus atlanticus and Glaucus marginatus.
Ziminella salmonacea, common name the salmon aeolis, is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Paracoryphellidae.
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Carronella pellucida is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine heterobranch mollusc in the family Flabellinidae. It is occasionally referred to as the milky white sea slug, the pellucid aeolid, or the red-gilled nudibranch, though these names are not commonly accepted in formal settings.
Apata pricei is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine heterobranch mollusc in the family Apataidae.
Polaria polaris is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine heterobranch mollusc in the family Paracoryphellidae.
Samla riwo is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine heterobranch mollusc in the family Samlidae.
Samla rubropurpurata is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine heterobranch mollusc in the family Samlidae.
Edmundsella vansyoci is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Flabellinidae.
Piseinotecus gonja is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Piseinotecidae.
Piseinotecus kima is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Piseinotecidae.