Cyerce kikutarobabai
Hamatani, 1976
Order: SACOGLOSSA
Superfamily: LIMAPONTIOIDEA
Family: Caliphyllidae
DISTRIBUTION
Tropical western Pacific
PHOTO
Grand Récif de Koumac, outer Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, 20°40'S, 164°11.2'E, 12m, Outside of reef, 7 October 1993, 1 specimen, 8mm long alive. AM C200389. PHOTOS: Bill Rudman
RELATED TOPIC
This apparently small species of Cyerce [aprox 10mm long] is known from a few records from Japan and my record on the Forum from New Caledonia. The flattened cerata are somewhat inflated. The body is translucent white with a distinctive purple colouring on the head, including the rhinophores and oral tentacles, and on the cerata. The purple colour on the cerata gradually fades towards the base. The head and tentacles have a pattern of white spots. On the cerata both the upper and lower surfaces have large translucent white spots, each containing a central opaque white or yellow spot. At the tip of the cerata there is a distinctive orange or yellow line border. The body has a distinctive green tinge from the ingested algal food.
Reference:
• Hamatani, I. (1976) A new species of Cyerce Bergh, 1871, C. kikutarobabai from Yoron Island (Opisthobranchia: Sacoglossa) Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, 23(3/5): 283-288, Pl. 1.
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (April 23) Cyerce kikutarobabai Hamatani, 1976. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/cyerkiku
