Antiopella longidentata

Antiopella longidentata, previously named Janolus longidentatus, the medallion silvertip nudibranch, is a species of nudibranch, or sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Janolidae.
Apart from striking differences in the egg ribbons, individuals of this species are externally not distinguishable from Antiopella capensis.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the marine heterobranch gastropods of South Africa|South African] coast and is found on both sides of the Cape Peninsula, from the intertidal border to at least 30 m.

Description

The medallion silvertip nudibranch grows up to 40mm in total length. It is a pale-bodied nudibranch with dark- to tan-coloured cerata with white tips. Its rhinophores are white and rolled. They are separated from one another by an opaque white spherical mass of unknown function called the rhinophoral crest.

Ecology

This species of nudibranch feeds on a bryozoan, the spiral moss animal, Menipea triseriata. The egg mass is a flat spiral of capsules with 5-7 eggs per capsule. The egg ribbon of the Cape silvertip nudibranch is globular, convoluted and has numerous eggs per capsule.