Cerberilla mosslandica

Cerberilla mosslandica
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Nudibranchia
Suborder:	Cladobranchia
Family:	Aeolidiidae
Genus:	Cerberilla
Species:	C. mosslandica
Binomial name
Cerberilla mosslandica McDonald & Nybakken, 1975[1]

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

Distribution

This species was described from Monterey Bay, California. It has also been reported near Duncan, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. A specimen from St. Peter the Great Bay, Russia, exhibited more white pigment and lines on the cerata, suggesting it may be a different species.[3]

Description

All Cerberilla species have a broad foot, and the cerata are numerous, arranged in transverse rows across the body. In this species, the body is mostly translucent white with a pinkish hue on the head. The digestive gland is darker pink. The tips of the rhinophores and cerata are covered with opaque white pigment, and there are white pigment spots on the outer part of the oral tentacles.[1] This species has short oral tentacles and large rhinophores compared to other Cerberilla species and may belong to the genus Aeolidiella.[3]

Ecology

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

References

1. McDonald GR, Nybakken J (1975) Cerberilla mosslandica, a new eolid nudibranch from Monterey Bay, California. Veliger 17: 378–382
2. Gofas, S. (2015). Cerberilla mosslandica. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-11-09
3. Rudman, W.B. (2007, February 22) Cerberilla mosslandica McDonald & Nybakken, 1975. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.