Aplysiopsis sinusmensalis

Aplysiopsis sinusmensalis, the Table Bay nudibranch, is a species of sacoglossan sea slug, a shell-less marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Hermaeidae.[1]

Aplysiopsis sinusmensalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
informal group Opisthobranchia
clade Sacoglossa
clade Plakobranchacea
Superfamily:
Limapontioidea
Family:
Hermaeidae
Genus:
Aplysiopsis
Species:
A. sinusmensalis
Binomial name
Aplysiopsis sinusmensalis
(Macnae, 1954)

Distribution

This species is only known to occur in South Africa.[2][3] It has been found off Blouberg, Milnerton, Oudekraal and Llandudno on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula and at Buffels Bay in False Bay. It appears to be endemic to this area.[4]

Description

The Table Bay nudibranch is small, growing up to 20mm in total length. Its body is elongated and brown to olive green. It has a lighter brown white-margined band extending down the back of the head. Its cerata and rhinophores are broad and somewhat flattened.[5]

Ecology

The Table Bay nudibranch has been found in shallow water, mainly estuaries and tidal pools, on the green algae Ulva sp.[4]

References
  1. Jensen K. R. (November 2007). "Biogeography of the Sacoglossa (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia)" Archived 2013-10-05 at the Wayback Machine. Bonner zoologische Beiträge 55(2006)(3-4): 255–281.
  2. "Aplysiopsis sinusmensalis - Hermaeidae » Nudi Pixel". Archived from the original on 2009-07-26. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
  3. "Aplysiopsis sinusmensalis".
  4. Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
  5. Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
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