Gasflame nudibranch

Bonisa nakaza

The gasflame nudibranch, ''Bonisa nakaza'', is a very colourful species of nudibranch, or sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Proctonotidae. ''Bonisa nakaza'' is the only species in the genus ''Bonisa''.
Gas Flame Nudibranch Yes, the common name of this Bonisa nakaza Nudibranch is Gas Flame!

I was not expecting to see any Nudibranch of small stuff during this dive/trip as we were diving for the Seven Gills Sharks and Fur Seals.  I didn't had the opportunity to take more or better picture of this Nudibranch as the dive guide was moving away and not waiting since the objective of the dive was to look for the big stuff. Bonisa nakaza,Cape Town,Gasflame nudibranchBonisa nakaza,Geotagged,Nudibranch,South Africa,Winter

Appearance

The gasflame nudibranch is a large and beautiful nudibranch densely covered with cerata. It is usually between 50 and 80 mm in length, but may reach 120 mm. It has highly variable coloration and may be pale-bodied with orange ceratal tips, yellow-bodied with blue ceratal tips, salmon-coloured with brown tips or even black with blue ceratal tips. Its rhinophores are perfoliate and vary in coloration with rest of animal, separated by a rhinophoral crest of unknown function.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the South African coast and is found only from the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth, from the intertidal border to at least 30 m.

Habitat

This species of nudibranch feeds on bryozoans. The egg mass is globular, highly convoluted and usually attached to branched organisms, such as gorgonian sea fans. It is usually cream coloured, but may be pinkish.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionMollusca
ClassGastropoda
OrderNudibranchia
FamilyProctonotidae
GenusBonisa
SpeciesB. nakaza
Photographed in
South Africa