The purple lady nudibranch, ''Paraflabellina funeka'', is a

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 ...

of 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, ...

, and is a very colourful

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 ...

. It is 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 ...

Flabellinidae Flabellinidae is a taxonomic family of brightly coloured sea slugs, specifically nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known a ...

.Rosenberg, G. (2012)
''Flabellina funeka''.
Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2012-05-16

Distribution

This species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to the South African coast and is found only from Cape Point to Port ElizabethGosliner, T. M. 1987. ''Nudibranchs of Southern Africa'' in 5–30 m of water.

Description

The purple lady is a slender purple-bodied aeolid with red

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 ...

having white tips. It is usually smaller than 45 mm. It has annulate purple

rhinophore 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 ...

s with pale tips. It has a pair of pale-tipped oral tentacles which are shorter than the rhinophores.Gosliner, T. M. and Griffiths, R. J. 1981
Description and revision of some South African aeolidacean Nudibranchia (Mollusca, Gastropoda).
''Ann. S. Afr. Mus.'' 84(2):105-150. It may also be seen in a white-bodied form, but the red cerata and annulate rhinophores are distinctive.Rudman, W.B., 2005 (January 28
''Flabellina funeka'' Gosliner & Griffiths, 1981.
n/nowiki> Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

Ecology

This aeolid feeds on

hydroids Hydroids are a life stage for most animals of the class Hydrozoa, small predators related to jellyfish. Some hydroids such as the freshwater '' Hydra'' are solitary, with the polyp attached directly to the substrate. When these produce buds ...

of the genus ''

Eudendrium ''Eudendrium'' is a large genus of hydroids (Hydrozoa), one of two in the family Eudendriidae. These animals are marine cnidarias in the family Eudendriidae. Species Species so far described in this genus include: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 ...

of the purple lady aid in respiration but also contain extensions of the digestive system. The purple lady eats the hydroid and passes its nematocysts unharmed through its digestive system to the tips of its cerata. Here the nematocysts mature and are then used by the nudibranch for its own defence. It is probable that the bright colours of the purple lady serve to advertise to predators that it is toxic. Despite their common name, purple ladies are hermaphrodites. Their egg mass is highly convoluted and white.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2028762 Endemic fauna of South Africa Flabellinidae Gastropods described in 1981