Gasflame nudibranch


The gasflame nudibranch is a very colourful species of nudibranch, or sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Proctonotidae. Bonisa nakaza is the only species in the genus Bonisa.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the marine [heterobranch">marine (ocean)">marine [heterobranch gastropods of South Africa|South African] coast and is found only from the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth, from the intertidal border to at least 30 m.

Description

The gasflame nudibranch is a large nudibranch densely covered with cerata. It is usually between 50 and 80 mm in length, but may reach 120 mm. It has highly variable coloration and may be pale-bodied with orange ceratal tips, yellow-bodied with blue ceratal tips, salmon-coloured with brown tips or even black with blue ceratal tips. Its rhinophores are perfoliate and vary in coloration with rest of animal, separated by a rhinophoral crest of unknown function.

Ecology

This species of nudibranch feeds on bryozoans. The egg mass is globular, highly convoluted and usually attached to branched organisms, such as gorgonian sea fans. It is usually cream coloured, but may be pinkish.