Gasflame nudibranch

The gasflame nudibranch (Bonisa nakaza) is a very colourful species of nudibranch, or sea slug.[1] It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Proctonotidae.[2] Bonisa nakaza is the only species in the genus Bonisa.

Gasflame nudibranch
Bonisa nakaza
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia

clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Dexiarchia

clade Cladobranchia
Family:
Proctonotidae
Genus:
Bonisa

Gosliner, 1981[1]
Species:
B. nakaza
Binomial name
Bonisa nakaza
Gosliner, 1981[1]
Synonyms[2]

Janolus nakaza (Gosliner, 1981)

Distribution

This species is endemic to the South African coast and is found only from the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth, from the intertidal border to at least 30 m.[3]

Description

The gasflame nudibranch is a large and beautiful nudibranch densely covered with cerata. It is usually between 50 and 80 mm in length, but may reach 120 mm. It has highly variable coloration and may be pale-bodied with orange ceratal tips, yellow-bodied with blue ceratal tips, salmon-coloured with brown tips or even black with blue ceratal tips. Its rhinophores are perfoliate and vary in coloration with rest of animal, separated by a rhinophoral crest of unknown function.

  • Rhinophores and rhinophoral crest
    Rhinophores and rhinophoral crest
  • Egg ribbon
    Egg ribbon

Ecology

This species of nudibranch feeds on bryozoans. The egg mass is globular, highly convoluted and usually attached to branched organisms, such as gorgonian sea fans. It is usually cream coloured, but may be pinkish.[4]

References
  1. Gosliner, T.M. (1981). "The south African Janolidae (Mollusca, Nudibranchia) with the description of a new genus and two new species". Annals of the South African Museum. 86 (1): 1–42.
  2. Bouchet, P. (2012). Bonisa nakaza. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225533 on 2012-06-03
  3. Gosliner, T.M. (1987). Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
  4. Zsilavecz, G. (2007). Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
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