Austraeolis ornata

Ornate facelinid | Nudibranch
Austraeolis ornata
Austraeolis ornata, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Tom Davis
Austraeolis ornata
Austraeolis ornata, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
Austraeolis ornata
Austraeolis ornata, Night. Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Austraeolis ornata
Austraeolis ornata, Night. Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
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Austraeolis ornata
Austraeolis ornata
Austraeolis ornata
Austraeolis ornata

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Orange body flecked with white and blue spots and numerous cerata arranged in small groups down the body. These cerata are quite fragile and will break off if the animal is handled roughly. The species occurs commonly in intertidal rock pools and shallow water, where it glides over the bottom looking for hydroids.


Information

Max Size: 4 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 16.2-24.6°C

Depth: 0-20m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Widespread (60% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney