Cerata

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

Cerata are dorsal and lateral outgrowths on the upper surfaces of the body of these nudibranchs.

Function

Cerata greatly extend the surface area of nudibranchs and aid in respiration, the process of gas exchange for metabolic use.

Cerata are also used, in some cases, for attack and defense. In many aeolid nudibranchs, the digestive system extends into the cerata. These nudibranchs eat stinging celled animals (Cnidarians) such as anemones, hydroids and sea fans or Portuguese men o' war. The stinging cells or nematocysts are passed unharmed through the digestive system to cnidosacs at the tips of the cerata. Here the nematocysts mature and are then used by the nudibranch for its own defence.