Janolus

Janolus is a genus of small to large sea slugs, or more accurately nudibranchs, marine gastropod mollusks, in the family Proctonotidae.[2] The name Janolus is derived from the two-headed god Janus, in ancient Roman mythology.

Janolus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Cladobranchia
Family: Janolidae
Genus: Janolus
Bergh, 1884[1]
Type species
Janolus australis Bergh, 1884
Species

See text

Synonyms[2]
  • Janus Vérany, 1844 (invalid: junior homonym of Janus Stephens, 1829 [Hymenoptera])

Description

Adult individuals of Janolus species can be between 2.5 cm to 8 cm long, depending on the species. They are semi-translucent and the body is covered in short cerata.

Distribution

Janolus species are found in many areas world-wide, including Europe, Australia, Japan and Africa.

Ecology

Habitat

This genus of nudibranch is found in shallow and subtidal waters.

Feeding habits

Janolus species feed on Bryozoa, moss animals.

Predators

In California, Navanax is a known predator of Janolus. Navanax tracks the slime of Janolus by using chemoreceptors. When Janolus is about to be caught, it rolls into a ball, leaving its cerata exposed.

Species

Species in the genus Janolus include:[2]

  • Janolus anulatus Camacho-Garcia & Gosliner, 2006
  • Janolus australis Bergh, 1884
  • Janolus chilensis M.A. Fischer, Cervera & Ortea, 1997
  • Janolus comis Er. Marcus, 1955
  • Janolus eximius Miller & Willan, 1986
  • Janolus faustoi Ortea & Llera, 1988
  • Janolus flavoanulatus Pola & Gosliner, 2019
  • Janolus hyalinus (Alder and Hancock, 1854)
  • Janolus ignis Miller & Willan, 1986
  • Janolus incrustans Pola & Gosliner, 2019
  • Janolus kinoi Edmunds & Carmona, 2017
  • Janolus mirabilis Baba & Abe, 1970
  • Janolus mokohinau Miller & Willan, 1986
  • Janolus mucloc (Er. Marcus, 1958)
  • Janolus rebeccae Schrödl, 1996
  • Janolus savinkini Martynov & Korshunova, 2012
  • Janolus toyamensis Baba & Abe, 1970
  • Janolus tricellariodes Pola & Gosliner, 2019
Species brought into synonymy
  • Janolus barbarensis (J. G. Cooper, 1863):synonym of Antiopella barbarensis (J. G. Cooper, 1863)
  • Janolus capensis Bergh, 1907:synonym of Antiopella capensis (Bergh, 1907) (original combination)
  • Janolus costacubensis Ortea & Espinosa, 2000:synonym of Janolus comis Er. Marcus, 1955
  • Janolus cristatus (Delle Chiaje, 1841):synonym of Antiopella cristata (Delle Chiaje, 1841)
  • Janolus flagellatus Eliot, 1906:synonym of Janolus hyalinus (Alder & Hancock, 1854) (dubious synonym)
  • Janolus fuscus O'Donoghue, 1924:synonym of Antiopella fusca (O'Donoghue, 1924) (original combination)
  • Janolus longidentatus Gosliner, 1981:synonym of Antiopella longidentata (Gosliner, 1981) (original combination)
  • Janolus nakaza (Gosliner, 1981):synonym of Bonisa nakaza Gosliner, 1981
  • Janolus novozealandicus (Eliot, 1907):synonym of Antiopella novozealandica Eliot, 1907
  • Janolus praeclarus (Bouchet, 1975):synonym of Antiopella praeclara Bouchet, 1975

References
  1. Bergh, L.S.R., 1884. Report on the Nudibranchiata dredged by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873-1876. Report of the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873-76, under the command of Captain George S. Nares, R.N., F.R.S. and Captain Frank Tourle Thomson, R.N. prepared under the superintendence of the late Sir C. Wyville Thomson, Knt., F.R.S., &c. Regius Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh Director of the Civilian Scientific Staff on board, and now of John Murray one of the naturalists of the expedition, Zoology 10(26):1-154, pls. 1-14.
  2. MolluscaBase (2019). MolluscaBase. Janolus Bergh, 1884. Accessed on 2020-10-20.
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