Gasflame nudibranch

Last updated

Gasflame nudibranch
Bonisa nakaza
Bonisa nakaza 18217275.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
(unranked):
Family:
Genus:
Bonisa

Gosliner, 1981 [1]
Species:
B. nakaza
Binomial name
Bonisa nakaza
Gosliner, 1981 [1]
Synonyms [2]

Janolus nakaza (Gosliner, 1981)

The gasflame nudibranch (Bonisa nakaza) is a very colourful species of nudibranch, or sea slug. [1] It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Proctonotidae. [2] Bonisa nakaza is the only species in the genus Bonisa.

Distribution

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

Description

The gasflame nudibranch is a large nudibranch densely covered with cerata. It is usually between 50 and 80 mm in length, but may reach 120 mm. It has highly variable coloration and may be pale-bodied with orange ceratal tips, yellow-bodied with blue ceratal tips, salmon-coloured with brown tips or even black with blue ceratal tips. Its rhinophores are perfoliate and vary in coloration with rest of animal, separated by a rhinophoral crest of unknown function.

Ecology

This species of nudibranch feeds on bryozoans. The egg mass is globular, highly convoluted and usually attached to branched organisms, such as gorgonian sea fans. It is usually cream coloured, but may be pinkish. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Paraflabellina funeka</i> Species of gastropod

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.

<i>Trinchesia speciosa</i> Species of gastropod

Trinchesia speciosa, common name the "candy nudibranch", is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trinchesiidae.

<i>Rostanga elandsia</i> Species of gastropod

Rostanga elandsia, is a species of dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Discodorididae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three-spot nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The three-spot nudibranch, scientific name Aldisa trimaculata, is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cadlinidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape dorid</span> Species of gastropod

The Cape dorid is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inkspot nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The inkspot nudibranch, Ceratosoma ingozi, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandela's nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

Mandela's nudibranch, Mandelia mirocornata, is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc, the only member of the genus Mandelia and the family Mandeliidae. The genus and family name honor Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-speckled nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The blue-speckled nudibranch is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Dendrodorididae.

<i>Okenia amoenula</i> Species of gastropod

The fiery nudibranch, Okenia amoenula, is a species of colourful sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giraffe spot nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The giraffe spot nudibranch, Ancula sp., as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species of colourful sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae. As of November 2009, it remained undescribed by science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowned nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The crowned nudibranch is a species of dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Polyceridae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twin-crowned nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The twin-crowned nudibranch, scientific name Polycera sp., as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species of dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Polyceridae. As of November 2009, it was undescribed by science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The black nudibranch is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Polyceridae. This species is endemic to South Africa.

<i>Doto coronata</i> Species of mollusc

Doto coronata is a species of small sea slug or nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Dotidae. It is the type species of the genus Doto.

<i>Duvaucelia odhneri</i> Species of gastropod

Duvaucelia odhneri, is a species of dendronotid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tritoniidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soft coral nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The soft coral nudibranch, Tritonia sp. 1, as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species of small sea slug, a dendronotid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tritoniidae. As of November 2009, it was undescribed by science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brush nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The brush nudibranch, Tritonia sp. 2, as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species of dendronotid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tritoniidae. As at November 2009, it remained undescribed by science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antiopella capensis</span> Species of gastropod

Antiopella capensis, originally described as Janolus capensis, the Cape silvertip nudibranch, is a beautiful species of nudibranch, or sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Proctonotidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antiopella longidentata</span> Species of gastropod

Antiopella longidentata, previously named Janolus longidentatus, the medallion silvertip nudibranch, is a species of nudibranch, or sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Proctonotidae.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gosliner, T.M. (1981). "The south African Janolidae (Mollusca, Nudibranchia) with the description of a new genus and two new species". Annals of the South African Museum. 86 (1): 1–42.
  2. 1 2 Bouchet, P. (2012). Bonisa nakaza. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225533 on 2012-06-03
  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