Leminda millecra
Griffiths, 1985
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: ARMININA
Family: Charcotiidae
DISTRIBUTION
It is known only from South Africa
PHOTO
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Size range 40-80mm. Upper: depth of 13m, 23 February 2002, L: 40 mm. Lower: depth of 10m, 24 February 2002, L: 60mm. Photos: Lindsay Warren.
The mantle is relatively thin and thrown into large sinuous folds. There is a break in the mantle edge anteriorly between the rhinophores, and a large oral veil. The rhinophores are smooth and tapering, and do not retract into a pocket. The digestive gland is divided into relatively fine ramifying ducts which can be seen through the translucent body wall. The colour of the animal is largely dependent on the colour of the food in the digestive gland ducts.
This unusual animal was placed in a separate Family, Lemindidae, by Griffiths, but is at present considered to be related to Charcotia, a monotypic genus, and Pseudotritionia, a genus with two known species. They all have arminiform bodies, simple rhinophores and branching digestive gland ducts. Gosliner (1985) reports this species from 10m to at least 40m. See message suggesting it eats a soft coral Alcyonium fauri and a gorgonian Leptogorgia palma. It is known only from South Africa.
References:
• Gosliner, T.M. (1987) Nudibranchs of Southern Africa, a guide to the Opisthobranchs of southern Africa. Sea Challengers, Monterey. 136pp.
• Griffiths, R. (1985) Description of a new South African arminacean and the proposed re-instatement of the genus Atthila Bergh (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia). Annals of the South African Museum, 95: 269-280.
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (September 29) Leminda millecra Griffiths, 1985. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/lemimill
Related messages
-
Leminda millecra showing its all!
From: Charles Rowe, February 6, 2007 -
Re: Leminda millecra from South Africa
From: Wilhelm van Zyl, November 15, 2006 -
Leminda millecra from South Africa
From: Georgina Jones, November 6, 2006 -
Leminda millecra - feeding record
From: Charles Rowe, October 16, 2003 -
Leminda millecra from South Africa
From: Valda Fraser, February 5, 2003 -
Food of Leminda millecra
From: Bill Rudman, October 14, 2002 -
Leminda millecra from South Africa (1)
From: Lindsay Warren, October 1, 2002 -
Leminda millecra from South Africa (2)
From: Lindsay Warren, October 1, 2002