Polycera atra, common name orange-spike polycera or sorcerer's sea slug, is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Polyceridae.

Polycera atra
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Nudibranchia
Superfamily: Polyceroidea
Family: Polyceridae
Genus: Polycera
Species:
P. atra
Binomial name
Polycera atra
Polycera atra from Princeton Harbor, California

Distribution

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This species of polycerid nudibranch was described from California.[2]

Description

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The body of Polycera atra is translucent white with longitudinal black lines interspersed with rows of raised yellow spots. The oral veil has 4-8 tapering yellow-tipped papillae.[3]

Ecology

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Polycera atra feeds on the bryozoan Bugula.[3]

References

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  1. ^ MacFarland, F.M., 1905. A preliminary account of the Dorididae of the Monterey Bay, California. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 18: 35-54.
  2. ^ MacFarland, F. M., 1966. Studies of opisthobranchiate mollusks of the Pacific coast of North America. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences, 6: 1-546, pls. 1-72.
  3. ^ a b Rudman, W.B., 2000 (July 4) Polycera atra MacFarland, 1905. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.