Ancula kariyana Baba, 1990
Description
A small Goniodorididae of the genus Ancula, body length 30 mm. Ground colour translucent white. The dorsum bears scattered dark-brown markings. Four yellow finger-like processes occur on the anterior margin of the head, and two similar processes flank the gills — generic-level characters of Ancula. A white longitudinal ridge runs along the midline of the tail. Rhinophores translucent white with dark-brown markings at the base and white markings near the tip. Gills white with yellow tips.Distribution
Type locality: Kariya-zaki, Japan.Etymology
The specific epithet kariyana is a place-name adjective formed from "Kariya-zaki", the type locality (not a patronym). The Japanese name "Kariya-umiushi" likewise refers to the type locality.Remarks
Ancula belongs to the Goniodorididae and is generally reported to feed on entoprocts and bryozoans, although no feeding observation is recorded for this species in the original description.References
- カリヤウミウシ（新種）, Baba, K. 1990. Notes on the rare genera Trapania and Ancula from Japan with the description of a new species (Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae). Venus 49(1):8-18.
- ワギュウウミウシ（新称）, 鈴木敬宇. (2000). ウミウシガイドブック〈2〉. TBSブリタニカ.
- 高岡生物研究会. (2002). 日本海のウミウシ. 第2版.
- Paz-Sedano S., Moles J., Smirnoff D., Gosliner T.M. & Pola M. (2024). A combined phylogenetic strategy illuminates the evolution of Goniodorididae nudibranchs (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Heterobranchia). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 192: 107990. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107990
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Kimoto N. (2026). Sea Slugs of Japan & the Indo-Pacific, 2nd Edition.
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Tag:
Same Genus Nudibranchs
Similar Colors Nudibranchs
Academic Database
Sea slug observation data is available in international marine biodiversity databases.