Cerata, singular ceras, are anatomical structures found externally in nudibranch sea slugs, especially in aeolid nudibranchs, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the clade Aeolidida. The word ceras comes from the Greek word "κέρας", meaning "horn", a reference to the shape of these structures.

Jan 12, 2022 · The term cerata (singular: ceras) is most often associated with the processes that arise from the dorsum of the Aeolidina – the aeolid nudibranchs. However, it is also commonly applied to the processes found on the dorsum of some of the Sacoglossa sea slugs such as those of the Caliphyllidae, Hermaeidae and Limapontiidae families (everyone ...

Jan 26, 2022 · CERATA. Part 2 – The Multiple Functions. In Part 1, an overview of cerata was given together with some examples of what are, and what are not, considered to be cerata and which sea slug taxa possess them. A list of their diverse roles was included.

Oct 2, 2020 · CERATA: The Multifunctional "Fingers" of Sea Slugs Part 1 - Introduction The term cerata... We all know about the rhinophores of the true nudibranchs - those highly developed... The true nudibranchs are divided into two suborders – Suborder Cladobranchia and Suborder...

Dec 16, 2018 · Aeolid nudibranchs have mantles that are covered with finger-like extensions called cerata. The cerata are very special as they contain branches of the digestive tract, and in some species, this is also visible!

After the nudibranch eats the tentacles of a jellyfish, anemone, coral, or other stinging animal, the stolen stinging cells pass through the digestive gland, which is the grey section in each ceras. They wind up in the orange cnidosacs, where they are stored until they are needed for defense.

This nudibranch has a few tricks up its sleeve: it steals jellyfish tentacles to use as weapons against its own enemies. How does it do this? Many fleshy, tentacle-like growths, called cerata (singular: ceras), project off its back.

Apr 25, 2023 · Morphological organization of its cerata and the digestive gland demonstrates several adaptations for housing zooxanthellae and providing them with proper conditions for active photosynthesis. Nudibranchs are an unusual group of marine gastropod mollusks devoid of a …

Using behavioural observations, electron microscopy and neurophysiological methods, I studied the mechanism and peripheral neural control of ceratal autotomy in the dendronotid nudibranch Melibe leonina (Gould, 1852). Dense populations of this large nudibranch occur within eelgrass and kelp beds along the west coast of North America.

In aeolid nudibranchs the mantle is extended into long finger-like projections called cerata (singular; ceras). The cerata contain branches of digestive gland and often this is visible through the ceratal epidermis.