Orange-eyed nudibranch

The orange-eyed nudibranch, scientific name Cratena capensis, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.

Orange-eyed nudibranch
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Dexiarchia
clade Cladobranchia
clade Aeolidida
Superfamily:
Aeolidioidea
Family:
Facelinidae
Subfamily:
Crateninae
Genus:
Cratena
Species:
C. capensis
Binomial name
Cratena capensis
Barnard, 1927

Distribution

This species has only been found around the South African coast from Saldanha Bay to Port Alfred, intertidally to at least 30 m.[1] It is endemic to South Africa.

Description

The orange-eyed nudibranch grows to between 10 and 30 mm in total length. It is a slender pale-bodied nudibranch which has smooth white rhinophores and a pair of elongated oral tentacles. The head bears two 'eye' patches of orange or red. Its cerata are reddish or orange with white tips. The colour of the cerata varies with diet.[2]

Ecology

This nudibranch feeds on a variety of hydroids. Its egg mass is a broad coil of one or two whorls.

gollark: Degrees Rømer!
gollark: Coltrans' identity?
gollark: Or 1/2pi.
gollark: How about 2tau?
gollark: Those are very annoying sounds.

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