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This species has been observed on Reunion and Madagascar Islands

Order : Nudibranchia Suborder : Dexiarchia Superfamily : Aeolidioidea Family : Facelinidae Distribution : Indo West Pacific Maximal size : 9 mm Abundance : Seldom if ever Species characteristics : The general body color is translucent white with narrow, wavy, vermilion to orange lines and scattered opaque white spots. The basal half of the oral tentacles and rhinophores is translucent with white spots and the distal half is uniform opaque white. The cerata are translucent with fine longitudinal opaque white lines and the digestive diverticulum, which occupies the entire space of the ceras, is pale brown.
	Showing species characteristics...	Photo Sullly Bachel Reunion, Barachois, 7 m, 14 December 2014, size : < 10 mm

See more about : Sightening and mating periods

Remarks :

Identification confirmed by Hsini Lin
     Synonymous (according worms) :
               - No other Name

Bibliographic data :

This is a very small aeolid nudibranch with a long and slender body. The tail is exceptionally long and the tip is pointed
   The oral tentacles and rhinophores are smooth.
   The anterior end of the foot is extended on each side into tentacular foot corners.
   The cerata are slender and smooth, and they taper evenly to a rounded tip with a constriction immediately below the apex which is thus like a nipple. The cerata are arranged in five discrete clusters in symmetrical pairs.
   The body is translucent clear with some white spots and patches, and a most characteristic pattern of curved thin orange lines. On the head there is an orange inverted V-shaped mark running forward from each rhinophore, and behind the rhinopores is an orange line running back from the base of each rhinophore and they curving in to meet in the midline. Down the body, in the space between the ceratal clusters there are similar pairs of orange lines.

References :

Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Cratena simba
   Nudipixel Cratena simba
   Okinawa Sea Slug Cratena simba

Publications :

Edmunds, M. (1970) Opisthobranchiate Mollusca from Tanzania. II. Eolidacea (Cuthonidae, Piseinotecidae and Facelinidae). Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London, 39: 15-57
   Marshall, J.G. & Willan, R.C. 1999. Nudibranchs of Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef - A Survey of the Opisthobranchia (Sea Slugs) of Heron and Wistari Reefs. Backhuys Publishers Leiden

Other photos of Cratena simba :

Barbara Bini Madagascar, Nosy bé, 14 m, May 2018, size : 8 mm

Sullly Bachel Reunion, Barachois, 7 m, 14 December 2014, size : < 10 mm

Characteristic pattern of curved thin vermillon to orange lines. On the head there is an orange inverted V-shaped mark (a) running forward from each rhinophore, and behind the rhinopores (b) is an orange line running back from the base of each rhinophore and they curving in to meet in the midline. Down the body, in the space between the ceratal clusters there are similar pairs of orange lines (c).

Christophe Cadet Reunion, L'ermitage lagoon, less 1 m, 28 December 2010, size : 5 mm   The body is translucent clear with some white spots and patches, and a most characteristic pattern of curved thin orange lines.

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