Trapania scurra explained

Trapania scurra is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.^[1]

Distribution

This species was described from Luzon Island, Philippines. It has also been reported from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Marshall Islands and Japan.

Description

This goniodorid nudibranchhttp://www.nudibranch.org/Scottish%20Nudibranchs/goniodoris-nodosa.html is pale purple, with a pattern of white patches with thin lines of purple between them on the body. The gills and rhinophores are purple and the large lateral papillae are white with brown bands. The oral tentacles and adjacent part of the head are blue.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Bouchet, P. (2015). Trapania scurra. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-10-18
2. Johnson, S. & Johnson, J., 2015. Trapania scurra Gosliner & Fahey, 2008 Kwajalein Underwater
3. Rudman, W.B., 2008 (March 10) Trapania scurra Gosliner & Fahey, 2008. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. The single animal known from the Marshall Islands has larger white patches and orange lateral papillae.^[2]

   Ecology

   Trapania scurra feeds on Entoprocta which often grow on sponges and other living substrata.

   References