Chocolate-chip nudibranch

The chocolate-chip nudibranch, Aphelodoris sp. 1, is an undescribed species of dorid nudibranch as designated by Gosliner, 1987. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Dorididae. As of November 2009, it was undescribed by academics.

Chocolate-chip nudibranch
Aphelodoris sp.1
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
Superfamily:
Doridoidea
Family:
Dorididae
Genus:
Aphelodoris
Binomial name
Aphelodoris sp. 1

Distribution

This species has been found around the southern African coast on both sides of the Cape Peninsula and off Port Elizabeth in 10–35 m of water.[1]

Description

The chocolate-chip nudibranch is a white-bodied smooth-skinned dorid with a few dark blotches of varying sizes on its notum. It has eight gills arranged around the anus and its rhinophores are perfoliate. It may reach a total length of 50 mm.[2]

Ecology

The chocolate-chip nudibranch feeds on sponges. This species is undescribed: it is not yet formally known in the scientific literature.

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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