Baeolidia palythoae

Baeolidia palythoae is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae found in South Africa.[2][1]

Baeolidia palythoae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Cladobranchia
Family: Aeolidiidae
Genus: Baeolidia
Species:
B. palythoae
Binomial name
Baeolidia palythoae
Gosliner, 1985[1]

Distribution

The holotype of this species was collected in the intertidal zone at Umgazana, south of Port St. Johns, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Additional specimens were collected at localities on the coast of South Africa from Umgazana to Jesser Point, Sodwana Bay National Park, Natal.[1]

Description

The body of Baeolidia palythoae is translucent yellowish. The yellow colour is overlaid with a reticulate brown pattern, which varies in density. The tip of each ceras bears a small opaque white spot. Ventrally and slightly eccentric to the apex is a larger spot of dark brown pigment. This pattern of colouration did not vary in any of the numerous specimens of this species observed.[1]

Ecology

Baeolidia palythoae feeds on colonial sea anemones of the genus Palythoa.

References
  1. Gosliner, T. (1985). The aeolid nudibranch family Aeolidiidae (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia) from tropical southern Africa. Annals of the South African Museum, 95, 233–267, p.245.
  2. Rosenberg, G.; Bouchet, P. (2014). Baeolidia palythoae (Gosliner, 1985). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-02-24.
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