Verconia protea explained

Verconia protea is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.^{[1] [2]}

Distribution

Known only from Oudekraal and Vulcan Rock on the Cape Peninsula west coast and Pinnacle dive site near Gordon's Bay on the east side of False Bay. South African endemic.

Description

A small (15mm) dorid with a smooth salmon pink body and white dotted margin.

Ecology

Often found on an encrusting sponge of almost identical colour at depths of 8 to 10m.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Bieler, R. (2015). Verconia protea (Gosliner, 1994). In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=866660 on 2016-01-13
2. Debelius, H. & Kuiter, R.H. (2007) Nudibranchs of the world. ConchBooks, Frankfurt, 360 pp. page(s): 204 Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=562472 on 2012-02-25
3. Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. SURG, Cape Town.