Kalinga ornata

Kalinga ornata is a species of large, colourful nudibranch in the family Polyceridae. It is the only species in the genus Kalinga, which is the type genus of the subfamily Kalinginae.[2]

Kalinga ornata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Doridina
Superfamily: Polyceroidea
Family: Polyceridae
Genus: Kalinga
Species:
K. ornata
Binomial name
Kalinga ornata

Distribution

Kalinga ornata resides in the deep coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific (though it has also been reported from Hawaii). [3] [4] While it occasionally washes up in shallow regions, live individuals have been observed by divers at a depth of 6 m,[5] they have been trawled from depths of 76 m,[6] and observed by an ROV at a depth of 182 m.[4]

Description

Kalinga ornata is nocturnal, reaching sizes of at least 130 mm, and prefers sandy or silty substrate.[3][5][7] It has been shown to feed on brittle stars, a completely unique diet for a nudibranch.[8]

Closeup of K. ornata's naked gill: This photo was taken at a famous diving spot named '82.5K' along the northeast coast of Taiwan at 15 m depth.
K. ornata

References
  1. Alder J. & Hancock A. (1864). "Notice of a collection of nudibranchiate mollusca made in India by Walter Elliot Esq. with descriptions of several new genera and species". Trans. zool. Soc. London 5: 113-147. Kalinga ornata is on the page 134.
  2. Caballer, M.; Bouchet, P. (2015). Kalinga ornata Alder & Hancock, 1864. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-10-07
  3. Rudman, W. B., 1999 (November 17). Kalinga ornata. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Accessed 5 June 2010.
  4. Kelley, C., 2002 (May 2) Kalinga ornata from deepwater off Hawaii." [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Accessed 5 June 2010.
  5. Gosliner, Terry. "Nudi of the Week is Kalinga ornata." The Slug Site. Accessed 5 June 2010.
  6. "The Sea Slug Forum - Kalinga ornata from Hong Kong." The Sea Slug Forum. Accessed 5 June 2010.
  7. Gosliner, Terry. "Two New Species of Sea Slugs, a Great Start - Scientist at Work Blog - NYTimes.com." Accessed 5 June 2010.
  8. Rie Nakano, Jiro Uochi, Toshihiko Fujita and Euichi Hirose, 2011. Kalinga ornata Alder & Hancock, 1864 (Nudibranchia: Polyceridae): a unique case of a sea slug feeding on echinoderms. Journal of Molluscan Studies. Volume 77, issue 4, pages 413-416
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