Kingdom Animalia Superfamily Doridoidea Genus Ceratosoma Phylum Mollusca | Class Gastropoda Family Chromodorididae Scientific name Ceratosoma amoenum Rank Species | |
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Similar Ceratosoma, Triopha catalinae, Doriprismatica atromarginata, Hypselodoris apolegma, Hypselodoris bennetti | ||
Ceratosoma amoenum, or the clown nudibranch, is a species of colorful dorid nudibranch, a sea slug, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.
Contents
Following the gender rules of International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the spelling of Ceratosoma amoena has been changed into Ceratosoma amoenum
Distribution
Ceratosoma amoenum is a common nudibranch found in the intertidal zones of temperate southern Australia and northern New Zealand. There have also been a few reported sightings off the coast of southern Queensland.
Description
This species has a white body which is elaborately patterned with orange and purple spots especially on the dorsum. The size of the spots varies according to range, with those individuals in New Zealand having the largest. There is some variation in the patterning of this species.
The gills and rhinophores are crimson-white in color and both the rhinophores and the unbranched gills can be retracted into pockets. At the rear of the mantle there is a large concentration of mantle glands. This species reaches at least 60 mm in length.
Ecology
Ceratosoma amoenum is known to feed on sponges. It has been seen feeding on sponges from the genus Semitaspongia and the species Dysidea fragilis. It sequesters metabolites from its prey as a defense mechanism.