Janolus longidentatus

Janolus longidentatus, the medallion silvertip nudibranch, is a spectacular-looking species of nudibranch, or sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Proctonotidae.

Janolus longidentatus
A silvertip nudibranch, either J. longidentatus or J. capensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Dexiarchia
clade Cladobranchia
Family:
Proctonotidae
Genus:
Janolus
Species:
J. longidentatus
Binomial name
Janolus longidentatus
Gosliner, 1981[1]

Apart from striking differences in the egg ribbons, individuals of this species are externally not distinguishable from the Cape silvertip nudibranch.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the South African coast and is found on both sides of the Cape Peninsula, from the intertidal border to at least 30 m.[2]

Description

The medallion silvertip nudibranch grows up to 40mm in total length. It is a pale-bodied nudibranch with dark- to tan-coloured cerata with white tips. Its rhinophores are white and rolled. They are separated from one another by an opaque white spherical mass of unknown function called the rhinophoral crest.

Ecology

This species of nudibranch feeds on a bryozoan, the spiral moss animal, Menipea triseriata. The egg mass is a flat spiral of capsules with 5-7 eggs per capsule.[3] The egg ribbon of the Cape silvertip nudibranch is globular, convoluted and has numerous eggs per capsule.

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References
  1. 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. GOSLINER, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
  3. ZSILAVECZ, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
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