Janolus toyamaensis
Baba and Abe, 1970

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: ARMININA
Family: Zephyrinidae

DISTRIBUTION

Japan [both Japan Sea and Pacific coasts].

PHOTO

Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan, Depth: 10m, 8 Mar 2002. Size approx: 20mm. Photos: Jun Imamoto

Typical shape for a Janolus, with an inter-rhinophoral crest and many tapering cerata, which are cast off [see autotomy] when the animal is stressed. The body is transluent clear with a grey or greenish tinge. All parts of the body, and the cerata have short scattered opaque white lines. Baba & Abe also report some dark brown spots on the sides of the body and edge of the foot. They also describe the inter-rhinophoral rest as black, but in this photo it is yellow. The cerata have a narrow tapering reddish-brown tip, below which is a yellowish patch. The rest of the ceratal is translucent clear, through which can be seen the dark green duct [or ducts]of the digestive gland. Grows to at least 20mm in length. Originally found on the Japan Sea coast of Honshu Island, records here from Okinawa, suggest a wide distribution in the Japanese region.

Reference:
• Baba, K. & Abe, T. (1970) Two new species of Janolidae from Toyama Bay, Japan (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia). The Veliger, 13(1): 63-66.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2003 (April 13) Janolus toyamaensis Baba and Abe, 1970. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/janotoya

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