Janolus
Janolus is a genus of small to large sea slugs, or more accurately nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks, in the family Janolidae. The name Janolus is derived from the two-headed god Janus, in ancient Roman mythology.
Description
Adult individuals of Janolus species can be between 2.5 cm to 8 cm long, depending on the species. They are semi-translucent and the body is covered in short cerata.Distribution
Janolus species are found in many areas world-wide, including Europe, Australia, Japan and Africa.Ecology
Habitat
This genus of nudibranch is found in shallow and subtidal waters.Feeding habits
Janolus species feed on Bryozoa, moss animals.Predators
In California, Navanax is a known predator of Janolus. Navanax tracks the slime of Janolus by using chemoreceptors. When Janolus is about to be caught, it rolls into a ball, leaving its cerata exposed.Species
Species in the genus Janolus include:Janolus anulatus Camacho-Garcia & Gosliner, 2006Janolus australis Bergh, 1884Janolus chilensis M.A. Fischer, Cervera & Ortea, 1997Janolus comis Er. Marcus, 1955Janolus eximius Miller & Willan, 1986Janolus faustoi Ortea & Llera, 1988Janolus flavoanulatus Pola & Gosliner, 2019Janolus hyalinus Janolus ignis Miller & Willan, 1986Janolus incrustans Pola & Gosliner, 2019Janolus kinoi Edmunds & Carmona, 2017Janolus mirabilis Baba & Abe, 1970Janolus mokohinau Miller & Willan, 1986Janolus mucloc Janolus rebeccae Schrödl, 1996Janolus savinkini Martynov & Korshunova, 2012Janolus toyamensis Baba & Abe, 1970Janolus tricellariodes Pola & Gosliner, 2019;Species brought into synonymy:Janolus barbarensis :synonym of Antiopella barbarensis Janolus capensis Bergh, 1907:synonym of Antiopella capensis Janolus costacubensis Ortea & Espinosa, 2000:synonym of Janolus comis Er. Marcus, 1955Janolus cristatus :synonym of Antiopella cristata Janolus flagellatus Eliot, 1906:synonym of Janolus hyalinus Janolus fuscus O'Donoghue, 1924:synonym of Antiopella fusca Janolus longidentatus Gosliner, 1981:synonym of Antiopella longidentata Janolus nakaza :synonym of Bonisa nakaza Gosliner, 1981Janolus novozealandicus :synonym of Antiopella novozealandica Eliot, 1907Janolus praeclarus :synonym of Antiopella praeclara Bouchet, 1975