Polycera capensis from Cape Town

January 31, 2003
From: Rudolph van Jaarsveld

I took this photo early in January 2003 in False Bay, South Africa. It was taken just outside the harbour wall of Simons Town at a depth of about 15 meters. I believe it is called a 'Crowned Nudibranch'. The photo was taken with a Nikonos V, 80mm Nikkor lens with Nikon close-up lens and framer. A single Sea & Sea YS50 strobe was used on manual.

I want to know more about this specific animal.

Rudolph van Jaarsveld
Johannesburg, South Africa.

rudolph@tcm.co.za

Jaarsveld, R., 2003 (Jan 31) Polycera capensis from Cape Town. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9101

Dear Rudolph,
Thanks for this photo, which arrived at a very opportune time, as I am also posting a message from Valda Fraser with a photo of a similar, but perhaps different species. I didn't know it was called the 'Crowned Nudibranch' in South Africa. Its scientific name is Polycera capensis and was named after the Cape of Good Hope, where it was first found. Like all species of Polycera it feeds on bryozoans - minute animals, which grow as plant-like colonies - of the genus Bugula. In Terry Gosliner's book he records this species in southern Africa from the Luderitz in Namibia to Port Alfred, in South Africa. It is also not uncommon in south eastern Australia, and we assume it reached Australia by travelling on its food bryozoan, which often attaches to the hulls of boats.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Jan 31). Comment on Polycera capensis from Cape Town by Rudolph van Jaarsveld. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9101

Factsheet

Polycera capensis

Related messages

  1. Polycera capensis from Bare Island, Sydney
    From: Andrew Trevor-Jones, March 16, 2007
  2. Re: First record of Polycera chilluna from S.Africa
    From: Peter Southwood, February 9, 2007
  3. Re: First record of Polycera chilluna from S.Africa
    From: Wilhelm van Zyl, January 24, 2007
  4. First record of Polycera chilluna from S.Africa?
    From: Wilhelm van Zyl, January 22, 2007
  5. Colour forms in Polycera capensis from Sth Africa
    From: Wilhelm van Zyl, January 22, 2007
  6. Polycera capensis laying eggs
    From: Leanne & David Atkinson, February 6, 2006
  7. Polycera capensis feeding
    From: Leanne & David Atkinson, January 26, 2006
  8. Polycera capensis from eastern Australia
    From: Bruce Potter, November 23, 2005
  9. Polycera capensis from Jervis Bay [1]
    From: Sue Newson, June 4, 2003
  10. Polycera capensis from Jervis Bay [2]
    From: Sue Newson, June 4, 2003
  11. Polycera capensis mating
    From: Leanne & David Atkinson, April 3, 2003
  12. Polycera capensis laying eggs
    From: Leanne & David Atkinson, March 26, 2003
  13. Polycera cf. capensis from South Africa
    From: Valda Fraser, January 31, 2003
  14. Polycera capensis from Sydney
    From: Iain Whyte, December 2, 2002
  15. Polycera capensis from Port Stephens, NSW
    From: Allan Saben, November 20, 2002
  16. Polycerid from South Africa
    From: Erwin Koehler, February 1, 2002
  17. Polycera capensis in southern New South Wales
    From: Erik Schloegl, March 26, 2001
  18. Polycera capensis from Sydney
    From: P.Zylstra & H.Rothenfluh, June 19, 2000
  19. Polycera capensis south of Sydney
    From: Erik Schloegl, March 6, 2000
  20. Distribution of Polycera capensis in Australia
    From: Richard Willan, October 8, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages