Tasselled nudibranch

The tasselled nudibranch, scientific name Kaloplocamus ramosus, is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, and a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Polyceridae.

Tasselled nudibranch
Kaloplocamus ramosus
A live individual of Kaloplocamus ramosus, head end towards the left
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Euctenidiacea
clade Doridacea
clade Euarminida
Superfamily:
Polyceroidea
Family:
Polyceridae
Subfamily:
Triophinae
Genus:
Kaloplocamus
Species:
K. ramosus
Binomial name
Kaloplocamus ramosus
(Cantraine, 1835)

Distribution

This species was described from the Mediterranean Sea.[1] It has subsequently been reported from south-eastern Australia and Japan, Hong Kong and Korea. It is also found off the South African coast, where it occurs from Hout Bay on the Cape Peninsula to the Wild Coast. It lives at depths from 25–400 m.[2]

Description

The tasselled nudibranch is very well-camouflaged; it usually cannot be noticed underwater without using a torch. The body is pale with variable amounts of reddish-pink pigmentation and is covered with raised white spots. Numerous branched projections on the notum aid in camouflage, and may be extended or retracted. This nudibranch has large perfoliate rhinophores, which are usually pinkish in color. The gills are spotted with red pigmentation.[3]

References
  1. Cantraine, F. 1835. Les diagnoses ou descriptions succintes de quelques espèces nouvelles de mollusques. - Bulletins de l'Académie Royale des Sciences et Belles-Lettres de Bruxelles (1) 2 (11): 380-401
  2. ZSILAVECZ, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN 0-620-38054-3
  3. GOSLINER, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
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