Trapania africana

Trapania africana is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.

Trapania africana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Doridina
Superfamily: Onchidoridoidea
Family: Goniodorididae
Genus: Trapania
Species:
T. africana
Binomial name
Trapania africana
Edmunds, 2009[1]

Distribution

This species was first described from Kpone Bay, Ghana. It was collected by W. Pople during survey work in the Tema area, 35 km east of Accra.[2]

Description

This goniodorid nudibranch is translucent white in colour, with conspicuous yellow spots on the body and small freckles of white and maroon. The papillae beside the rhinophores and beside the gills are maroon. There are yellow spots at the bases of the papillae and the base of the oral tentacles is yellow.

Ecology

Trapania africana probably feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on sponges and other living substrata.

References

  1. Edmunds M. (2009) "Opisthobranchiate Mollusca from Ghana: Goniodorididae". Journal of Conchology 40(1): 37-54. abstract.
  2. Edmunds, J. & Edmunds, M., 1973. Malacologia, 1973, 14: 371-376 Proceedings of the Fourth European Malacological Congress. Preliminary Report on the Mollusca of the Benthic Communities off Tema, Ghana.
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