Janolus fuscus
| Janolus fuscus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura |
| Family: | Proctonotidae |
| Genus: | Janolus |
| Species: | J. fuscus |
| Binomial name | |
| Janolus fuscus | |
Janolus fuscus is a species of sea slug, or more accurately a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Proctonotidae.
Distribution
The species Janolus fuscus is found from the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska to central California and also in northern Japan.[1]
Habitat
This species of nudibranch is found in shallow and subtidal waters.
Description
The bodies of nudibranchs in this species are semi-translucent. The body is covered in short cerata. In Janolus fuscus the cerata are orange and white tipped.
Life habits
Janolus species feed on Bryozoa.
Predators
In California, Navanax is a known predator of Janolus. Navanax tracks the slime of Janolus by using chemoreceptors. When Janolus is about to be caught, it rolls into a ball, leaving its cerata exposed. If there is a water current, as if often the case, the sea slug may then be passively rolled away from the predator.
References
- ↑ "Janolus fuscus". Sea Slug Forum. Retrieved 24 December 2006.