Cowled nudibranch
| cowled nudibranch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura |
| Superfamily: | Tritonioidea |
| Family: | Tethydidae |
| Genus: | Melibe |
| Species: | M. rosea |
| Binomial name | |
| Melibe rosea Rang, 1829 | |
The cowled nudibranch, scientific name Melibe rosea, is a species of sea slug, a dendronotid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tethydidae.
This species is only found in South Africa.
Distribution
This species is endemic to the South African coast and is found from Port Nolloth to Port Alfred, usually intertidally, but occasionally to 10 m.[1]
Description
The cowled nudibranch is a white to pinky-red nudibranch distinguished by its large extendable hood. Knobbly paired cerata extend down the margins of the smooth notum. The notum and cerata may have opaque white encrustations. It can grow as large as 50 mm in total length.[2]
Ecology
The cowled nudibranch feeds on small crustaceans, capturing them with its oral hood.