Leminda millecra
Griffiths, 1985

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: ARMININA
Family: Charcotiidae

DISTRIBUTION

It is known only from South Africa

PHOTO

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Size range 40-80mm. Upper: depth of 13m, 23 February 2002, L: 40 mm. Lower: depth of 10m, 24 February 2002, L: 60mm. Photos: Lindsay Warren.

The mantle is relatively thin and thrown into large sinuous folds. There is a break in the mantle edge anteriorly between the rhinophores, and a large oral veil. The rhinophores are smooth and tapering, and do not retract into a pocket. The digestive gland is divided into relatively fine ramifying ducts which can be seen through the translucent body wall. The colour of the animal is largely dependent on the colour of the food in the digestive gland ducts.

This unusual animal was placed in a separate Family, Lemindidae, by Griffiths, but is at present considered to be related to Charcotia, a monotypic genus, and Pseudotritionia, a genus with two known species. They all have arminiform bodies, simple rhinophores and branching digestive gland ducts. Gosliner (1985) reports this species from 10m to at least 40m. See message suggesting it eats a soft coral Alcyonium fauri and a gorgonian Leptogorgia palma. It is known only from South Africa.

References:
• Gosliner, T.M. (1987) Nudibranchs of Southern Africa, a guide to the Opisthobranchs of southern Africa. Sea Challengers, Monterey. 136pp.
• Griffiths, R. (1985) Description of a new South African arminacean and the proposed re-instatement of the genus Atthila Bergh (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia). Annals of the South African Museum, 95: 269-280.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (September 29) Leminda millecra Griffiths, 1985. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/lemimill

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