Trapania aurata

Trapania aurata is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.

Trapania aurata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Euctenidiacea
clade Doridacea
Superfamily:
Onchidoridoidea
Family:
Goniodorididae
Genus:
Trapania
Species:
T. aurata
Binomial name
Trapania aurata
Rudman, 1987[1]

Distribution

This species was described from Hong Kong, China. It has also been reported from New Caledonia.[2]

Description

The body of this goniodorid nudibranch is opaque white. The gills are white and the rhinophores and the lateral papillae are orange. The oral tentacles are orange and there is usually an orange line extending from the tip of the tail partway towards the gills. The coloration is similar to Trapania vitta except that in that species the lateral papillae are entirely white. Trapania gibbera is another species which is mainly white.[2]

Ecology

Trapania aurata probably feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on sponges and other living substrata.

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References
  1. Rudman, W.B. (1987). The genus Trapania (Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae) in the Indo-West Pacific. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 53: 189-212
  2. Rudman, W.B., 1998 (November 17) Trapania aurata Rudman, 1987. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
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