Trapania japonica

Trapania japonica is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.[2]

Trapania japonica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Euctenidiacea
clade Doridacea
Superfamily:
Onchidoridoidea
Family:
Goniodorididae
Genus:
Trapania
Species:
T. japonica
Binomial name
Trapania japonica
Baba, 1935[1]
Synonyms

Drepania japonica Baba, 1935

Distribution

This species was first described from Japan. It is also known from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Indonesia and Queensland, Australia.[3]

Description

The length of body attains 10 mm. This goniodorid nudibranch is white in colour, with a pattern of large dark brown spots on the body and long yellow lateral papillae. The oral tentacles are entirely dark brown and the rhinophores and gills are tipped with brown pigment.[3]

Ecology

Trapania japonica probably feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on sponges.

References
  1. Baba,K (1935). Report on the biological survey of Mutsu Bay (27). Nudibranchia of Mutsu Bay. Science Reports of the Tohoku Imperial University, series 4, Biology 10(2, August), 331-360. (Pls.5-7)
  2. Bouchet, P. (2015). Trapania japonica. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-10-19
  3. Rudman, W.B., 1998 (November 14) Trapania japonica (Baba, 1935). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  • Marshall, J.G. & Willan, R.C. 1999. Nudibranchs of Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef. Leiden : Backhuys 257 pp.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.