WHATSTHATFISH
Sea slugs & snails

Gloomy Tambja

Tambja morosa

Also known as: Dorid Nudibranch, Gloomy Nudibranch, Morose Nudibranch, Morose Tambja, Nudibranch

Adult
@blogie · Paradise Island Beach Resort, Babak District, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · September 20111 / 2
01

Overview

Found singly or in pairs, around coral bases and over slopes, of coral reefs.
They feed exclusively on plant like bryozoan colonies.

Colour variations from almost black to green with electric blue spots/lines.

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.

02

How to identify

Behaviour
pairssolitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found singly or in pairs, around coral bases and over slopes, of coral reefs.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumMollusca
    3. classGastropoda
    4. orderDoridida
    5. familyPolyceridae
    6. genusTambja
    7. speciesTambja morosa (Bergh, 1877)

    SourcesWoRMSSea Slug Forum

    06

    More in the family

    Sea Slugs (Polyceridae)