Tomentosa Elysia Sea Slug
Elysia tomentosa
Also known as: Hairy Sapsucking Slug, Sacoglossan Sea Slug, Woolly Elysia
- Hairy Sapsucking Slug
- Sacoglossan Sea Slug
- Woolly Elysia
Overview
Found during the day, on coral and rocky reefs, amongst shallow patches of sand and rubble areas.
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.
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-West Pacific
- Country only · 1
Found during the day, on coral and rocky reefs, amongst shallow patches of sand and rubble areas.
Adult photos 1
Discussion
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Deep dive
Taxonomy
- familyElysiidae
- genusElysia
- speciesElysia tomentosa K. R. Jensen, 1997
SourcesWoRMSSea Slug Forum
More in the family
Sapsucking Slugs (Elysiidae)



