Crowned nudibranch (Polycera capensis)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF.
Distribution map plotted from GBIF.org occurrence records; basemap Natural Earth 110m · GBIF records CC0 / CC BY; Natural Earth public domain
Crowned nudibranch (Polycera capensis) is a marine species in the family Polyceridae (Mollusca › Gastropoda › Nudibranchia), recorded in the World Register of Marine Species as Polycera capensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 under AphiaID 225509.
- Scientific name
- Polycera capensis
- Authority
- Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
- Family
- Polyceridae
- Order
- Nudibranchia
- Maximum length
- 7 cm
- Depth range
- 0–30 m
- Habitat zone
- benthic
- Gbif occurrence records
- 1,054
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Gastropoda · Order: Nudibranchia · Family: Polyceridae · Genus: Polycera.
Accepted name: Polycera capensis · Authority: Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 225509.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Polycera conspicua J. K. Allan, 1932; Polycera nigrocrocea Barnard, 1927.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225509 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Polycera capensis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 7 cm · Depth range: 0–30 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
SeaLifeBase notes: Assumed maximum length from Ref. 844. Found from the intertidal fringe (Ref. 844), to depths of at least 30 m (Ref. 866).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 87192) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Polycera-capensis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
1,054 georeferenced occurrence records for Polycera capensis are published through GBIF from 2 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 23 distinct locations from a sample of 1,054 records, omitting 19 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Australia (582); South Africa (472).
The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 4359894) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=4359894&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225509 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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