Elegant Phyllidia

Scientific Name: Phyllidia elegans
Species: Sea Slugs (Phyllidiidae)
Other names: Nudibranchs, Warty Sea Slugs, Elegant Sea Slug, Phyllidiidae Nudibranch, Fried Egg Nudibranch, Fried Egg Sea Slug, Warty Sea Slug.

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Elegant Phyllidia

Uploaded by: @fishx6 in May 2008
Photographed at: Mirihi Island Resort - Maldives
Caption: No caption available
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Elegant Phyllidia

Uploaded by: @blogie in January 2012
Photographed at: Punk Rock Dive Site, Island Garden City of Samal - Philippines
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Description

Also known as Nudibranchs, Warty Sea Slugs, Elegant Sea Slug, Phyllidiidae Nudibranch, Fried Egg Nudibranch, Fried Egg Sea Slug and Warty Sea Slug.

Found singly or in pairs on coral and rocky reefs amongst sand and rubble areas.
They feed on hydroids, coral, sponges and anemones.
Length - 8cm
Depth - 2-30m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

Opisthobranchia - Nudibranchs - Sea Slugs meaning "naked gills" are molluscs without a hard shell.
All opisthobranchs are hermaphrodites.
These beautiful slugs are usually brilliantly coloured and this in itself can act as a deterrent against predators. Some sea slugs secrete acid from stinging cells in their tentacles while others secrete acid from cells in their mantle.
Nudibranchs are slow moving, can swim or be propelled along either by muscular contraction or by millions of tiny hairs on the bottom of a fleshy 'foot', they have a voracious appetite and feed with a rasp like tongue.
Nudibranch lay their eggs in a ribbon effect on the sand, in different colours depending on species.