WHATSTHATFISH
Sea slugs & snails

Solar Powered Sea Slug

Elysia timida

Also known as: Nudibranch, Sacoglossan Sea Slug, Sapsucking Slug, Solar Powered Marine Sea Slug, Solar Powered Slug

Adult
@JarJar · Afrate, Crete, Greece · April 20141 / 2
01

Overview

Found singly or in groups, over rock and sandy areas of shallow coastal reefs rich in green algae.
Widespread Tropical Western Atlantic, Mediterranean

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.

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How to identify

COLOURS

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Central Atlantic, Mediterranean
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found singly or in groups, over rock and sandy areas of shallow coastal reefs rich in green algae.

04

Adult photos 2

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyElysiidae
    2. genusElysia
    3. speciesElysia timida (Risso, 1818)

    SourcesWoRMSSea Slug Forum

    06

    More in the family

    Sapsucking Slugs (Elysiidae)