Candelabra nudibranch

candelabra 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: Eubranchidae
Genus: Eubranchus
Binomial name
Eubranchus sp. 5

The candelabra nudibranch, Eubranchus sp. 5, as designated by Zsilavecz, 2007, is a species of sea slug or nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Eubranchidae. It is an aeolid nudibranch, which is known to occur off the South African coast. As at August 2010, it remained undescribed by science.

Distribution

This species has to date only been found off South Africa, from the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula to eastern False Bay, in 5-20 m of water. It appears to be endemic.

Description

The candelabra nudibranch is a small nudibranch, reaching 10-15 mm in total length. It is a slender pale-bodied nudibranch covered with brown blotches and opaque white streaks. Its cerata are shaped rather like burning candles and are all olive coloured. The rhinophores protrude from cup-like sheaths.[1]

Ecology

The egg ribbon of the candelabra nudibranch

This species lays a pale semi spiral collar of eggs.

References

  1. Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
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