Cerberilla albopunctata

Cerberilla albopunctata
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Nudibranchia
Suborder:	Cladobranchia
Family:	Aeolidiidae
Genus:	Cerberilla
Species:	C. albopunctata
Binomial name
Cerberilla albopunctata Baba, 1976[1]

Cerberilla albopunctata is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine heterobranch mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae.[2]

Distribution

This species was described from Tomioka, Amakusa District, Kumamoto and other localities in middle and southern Japan. A similar looking animal has been reported from Timor.[3]

Description

All Cerberilla species have a broad foot and the cerata are long and numerous, arranged in transverse rows across the body. In this spectacular species the body and cerata are covered with large round white spots on a translucent grey background. The long oral tentacles have white spotted bases and bands of bright blue and deep yellow and there is a band of yellow on each of the cerata.

Ecology

Species of Cerberilla live on and in sandy substrates where they burrow beneath the surface and feed on burrowing sea anemones.

References

1. Baba, K. (1976). The genus Cerberilla of Japan (Nudibranchia: Eolidoidea: Aeolidiidae), with the description of a new species. The Veliger, 18(3):272-280. p. 276.
2. Rosenberg, G. (2015). Cerberilla albopunctata. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-11-09
3. Rudman, W.B., 2002 (February 18) Cerberilla albopunctata Baba, 1976. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

• Liu J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp.