''Antonietta janthina'' is a colourful

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

sea slug Sea slug is a common name for some marine invertebrates with varying levels of resemblance to terrestrial slugs. Most creatures known as sea slugs are gastropods, i.e. they are sea snails (marine gastropod mollusks) that over evolutionary time ...

or aeolid

nudibranch Nudibranchs () are a group of soft-bodied marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms, and they have been given colourful nicknames to match, ...

, a marine gastropod mollusc in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Facelinidae.Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2012)
''Antonietta janthina'' Baba & Hamatani, 1977.
Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-06-05

Distribution

This nudibranch is known from south-east Japan.Rudman, W.B., 2006 (April 11
''Antonietta janthina'' Baba & Hamatani, 1977.
n/nowiki> Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. A similarly coloured species is found in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

Description

''Antonietta janthina'' has a pink-purple body with white surface pigment. The numerous

cerata :''The tortrix moth genus ''Cerata'' is considered a junior synonym of ''Cydia. Cerata, singular ceras, are anatomical structures found externally in nudibranch sea slugs, especially in aeolid nudibranchs, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks ...

have purple digestive gland inside them and superficial white or pale yellow pigment covering the tips. The oral tentacles are bright yellow and there is a median band of the same colour on the head. The

rhinophores A rhinophore is one of a pair of chemosensory club-shaped, rod-shaped or ear-like structures which are the most prominent part of the external head anatomy in sea slugs, marine gastropod opisthobranch mollusks such as the nudibranchs, sea ha ...

are orange with a median band of white. This species can reach a total length of at least 10 mm.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4776285 Facelinidae Gastropods described in 1977