 |
|
| nudibranchs text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > sea slugs > Order Nudibranchia |
| Fugly
nudibranch Actinocyclus sp. Family Actinocyclidae updated Oct 10 Where seen? This large lumpy and rather fugly nudibranch is rarely seen. The ones encountered were on coral rubble. It is possible that they are not all that rare and that these very well camouflaged nudibranchs are just overlooked? Features: 10-12cm long. Body tough and leathery, with a flat portion on the back where stubby gills emerge. The gills often resemble a 'bubble'. The rhinophores are stumpy too. The entire animal is rather squat and unremarkable. It produces some slime when handled. Previously all were considered one species A. japonicus. Currently two species are identified. A. verrucosus has a few but large low rounded bumps (called tubercles). A. papillatus has many large rounded turbercles. Sometimes mistaken for onch slugs (Family Onchididae). Onchs don't have feathery gills on their backs and are much flatter than this nudibranch. What do they eat? Slimy sponges. Dr Bill Rudman shares on his website that he has seen them "on Dendroceratid sponges of the Family Halisarcidae. These sponges form tough leathery, almost slimy layers over rocks or other hard surfaces and look more like a compound ascidian colony than a sponge, though they lack any obvious pores". He also has drawings of the nudibranch showing its head and mouth and how it feeds. |
 Sentosa, May 04  |
 Stumpy gills that look like a bubble. |
 Stumpy rhinophores. |
Fugly nudibranchs on Singapore shores
 Beting Bronok, Jun 06  |
 Beting Bronok, Jun 06  |
 Tuas, Feb 07  |
 Tuas, Aug 09 |
Links
|
.
Western Australian Museum. 184 pp.|
|