Indonesia Photo gallery: nudibranchs and sea slugs

Over four hundred species of nudibranchs have been identified at Tulamben. We are not experts on these animals; if you find we have misidentified one, or can identify a specimen we could not, please let us know and we will correct it.

Headshield slugs have a well-developed head shield which is used to plow beneath the surface of the sand. Most have an internal shell.

Lovely headshield slug, Chelidonura amoena

Most Sap-sucking slugs (Sacoglossa) are herbivorous. They have rolled rhinophores. Oral tentacles are small or absent, and gills are usually lacking. They feed primarily on green algae. Many have a symbiotic relationship with the chloroplasts extracted from the algae. Some species feed on nudibranch eggs.

Ornate sap-sucking slug, Elysia marginata

Shaggy Elysia, Elysia cf tomentosa

Kuro sap-sucking slug, Costasiella kuroshimae

Purple-tipped Costasiella, Costasiella sp.

Rabbit sap-sucking slug, Costasiella usagi

White-bump sap-sucking slug, Thuridella albopustulosa

Ornate Stiliger, Stiliger ornatus

True sea slugs (nudibranchs) are carnivores. In most species the gills or branchial plumes are outside the body. All have rhinophores.

Dorid nudibranchs (Doridacea) have a mantle which overlaps the sides of the foot. Most have a ring of external branched gills surrounding the anus towards the back of the body. Some species instead have the gills located beneath the sides of the mantle. Most species can withdraw their rhinophores into a pocket beneath the skin.

Dark-margin glossodoris, Glossodoris atromarginata

Hairy Norse god, Aegires villosus

Black-tipped Thecacera, Thecacera sp.

Bus stop chromodoris, Chromodoris hintuanensis

Chromodoris geometrica

White Goniodoris, Goniodoris felis

White-netted nudibranch, Chromodoris (Gonionbranchus) setoensis

Diversidoris aurantionodulosa

Goniobranchus geometricus

Hypselodoris nigrostriata

Chromodoris sinensis

Precious chromodoris, Chromodoris (Goniobranchus) preciosa

White gill chromodoris, Chromodoria (Goniobranchus) albonares

Cryptic thorunna, Thorunna furtive

Purple-edged ceratosoma, Ceratosoma tenue

Jester trapania, Trapania scurra

Brown-spotted Trapania, Trapania cf toddi

Pimpled phyllidiella, Phyllidiella pustulosa

Colorful (painted) hypselodoris (top), Hypselodoris infucata, and maritime hypselodoris, Hypselodoris maritima (bottom)

Fire Hypselodoris, Hypselodoris infucata

West wind hypselodoris, Hypselodoris zephyra

Bullock's Hypselodoris, Hypselodoris bullocki

Three-lined pectenodoris, Pectenodoris (Mexichromis) trilineata

Crested nembrotha, Nembrotha cristata

Pale-gill Nembrotha, Nembrotha cf kubaryana

Lacuna Hypselodoris, Hypselodoris lacuna, with egg mass

Orange-Ceras Trinchesia, Trinchesia sp.

Collingwood's chromodoris, Chromodoris collingwoodi (Goniobranchus collingwoodi)

Bumpy mexichromis, Mexichromis multituberculata

Orange-barred mexichromis, Mexichromis macropus

Ceratosoma trilobatum

Dendrontid nudibranchs (Dendronotidae) have elongated bodies, often with numerous branching cerrata on their dorsal side which lack extensions from their digestive gland. The head has an oral veil having branching extensions. The lamellate rhinophores are surrounded by a sheath and branched extensions.

Flat-back Lomanotus, Lomanotus sp.

Donut nudibranch, Doto greenamyeri, right: laying eggs

Trapania palmula, small juvenile trailing adult

Racemose doto, Doto racemosa

Arminid nudibranchs (Arminidae) are the smallest suborder of nudibranchs. Most have a cephalic veil and contractile rhinophores without sheaths or pockets. Gills may be present or absent, They feed on soft corals and sea pens or bryozoans. We did not photograph any in Tulamben.

Aeolid nudibranchs (Aeolidida) have elongated, tapering bodies with cerrata containing cnidosacs. This is the second largest nudibranch suborder. They lack distinct gills and use cerrata for respiration and defense.

Yellow-back Trinchesia, Trinchesia sp.