Three-spot nudibranch

The three-spot nudibranch, scientific name Aldisa trimaculata, is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cadlinidae.

Three-spot nudibranch
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Doridina
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Cadlinidae
Genus: Aldisa
Species:
A. trimaculata
Binomial name
Aldisa trimaculata
Gosliner in Millen & Gosliner, 1985[1]

Distribution

This demersal species has so far only been found around the southern African coast, on both sides of the Cape Peninsula, in 10–30 m of water. It may possibly be endemic to that area.[2]

Two of the dotted spots of the three-spot nudibranch

Description

The three-spot nudibranch is a tan-coloured dorid with a warty skin and three brown spots, which are themselves spotted with lighter patches. The animal has eight gills arranged around the anus and its rhinophores are perfoliate. It may reach a total length of 40 mm.[3][4]

Ecology

This species feeds on sponges.

References
  1. Millen, S. V.; Gosliner, T. M. (1985). Four new species of dorid nudibranchs belonging to the genus Aldisa (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia), with a revision of the genus. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 84: 195-233.
  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
  4. Rudman, W.B., 2001 (August 1) Aldisa trimaculata Gosliner in Millen & Gosliner, 1985. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
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