Cabangus regius
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
- Size
- 13–30 mm
- Native range
- Central Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia (Sabah) and Thailand.
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Description
A small, showy dendronotid nudibranch described from Bunaken (Indonesia) as Dendronotus regius and later placed in its own genus Cabangus (Indonesian 'cabang' = branch). The epithet 'regius' (royal) refers to its ornate branched appendages.
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Identification
Translucent white body, often with a pale orange to pinkish wash, internal organs visible. Four pairs of tree-like branched dorsolateral appendages with dark brown tips; brown branched processes also on the front of the head and rhinophore sheaths. Rhinophore clubs bright orange; scattered brown, white and black spots on the back.
Similar species
Other dendronotids (e.g. Dendronotus species) have similar branched appendages but lack the combination of translucent body, brown-tipped branches and bright orange rhinophore clubs.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Tropical reefs and slopes; often reported from deeper dives (around 25 m and below).
Food
Not documented; dendronotids generally feed on hydroids.