Polycera atra explained

Polycera atra, common name orange-spike polycera or sorcerer's sea slug, is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Polyceridae.

Distribution

This species of polycerid nudibranch was described from California.^[1]

Description

The body of Polycera atra is translucent white with longitudinal black lines interspersed with rows of raised yellow spots. The oral veil has 4-8 tapering yellow-tipped papillae.^[2]

Notes and References

1. MacFarland, F. M., 1966. Studies of opisthobranchiate mollusks of the Pacific coast of North America. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences, 6: 1-546, pls. 1-72.
2. Rudman, W.B., 2000 (July 4) Polycera atra MacFarland, 1905. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

   Ecology

   Polycera atra feeds on the bryozoan Bugula.

   References