Many-Lobed Ceratosoma

Ceratosoma tenue is a species of colorful dorid nudibranch, a sea slug, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Distribution

This sea slug is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area, from the oriental African coast to Hawaii.

Description

Ceratosoma tenue can grow to a maximal size of 12 cm length. The body coloration is extremely variable but is always composed of bright colors. However, the body coloration is not a valuable criterion of determination for this species because it can easily be confused with Ceratosoma tribolatum. The physical distinctive criteria are three mantle lobes on the first half of the body on each side and the purple margin of the mantle and foot is a dotted line. Another specificity of the species is the kind of "horn" covering the gills, which is like a lure and acts as a defensive chemical weapon that will scared any potential predator who dares to bite this part. The gills and the rhinophores are retractile in internal sheaths.

Behavior

Ceratosoma tenue is active all time and has a diurnal activity.

Feeding

Ceratosoma tenue feeds on sponge of genus Dysidea.