Dumaguete Photo gallery: nudibranchs and sea slugs

We love sea slugs, but 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

Amusing Siphopteron, Siphopteron nakakatuea

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.

Purple-tipped Costasiella, Costasiella sp.

Kuro sap-sucking slug (leaf sheep), Costasiella kuroshimae

Rabbit sap-sucking slug, Costasiella usagi

Ornate sap-sucking slug, Elysia marginata

Freckled sea hare, Aplysia parvula (nigrocincta)

Ornate Stiliger, Stiliger ornatus

Thuridilla gracilis

Thuridilla lineolata

Green oxynoe, Oxynoe viridis

Volvatella sp.

unidentified species

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.

Hikueru glossodoris, Glossodoris hikuerensis

Girdled glossodoris, Glossodoris cincta

Collingwood's chromodoris, Chromodoris collingwoodi (Goniobranchus collingwoodi)

Creamy nudibranch, Goniobranchus (Chromodoris) fidelis

Green ring nembrotha, Nembrotha yonowae

Kubaryana's nembrotha, Nembrotha kubaryana

Gloomy tambja, Tambja morosa

Crested nembrotha, Nembrotha cristata

Miller's nembrotha, Nembrotha milleri

Strawberry gymnodoris, Gymnodoris aurita

Lined nembrotha, Nembrotha lineolata

Jester trapania, Trapania scurra

unidentified species

Kanga Hypselodoris, Hypselodoris kanga

unidentified species

Painted thecacera, Thecacera picta

Funeral (mourning) jorunna, Jorunna funebris

Yellow-guts gymnodoris, Gymnodiris aff. citrina

Bumpy mexichromis, Mexichromis multituberculata

Hairy Norse god, (shaggy aegires), Aegires villosus

Geometric nudibranch, Goniobranchus geometricus

White stripe atagema, Trippa (Atagema) intecta

Kunei's nudibranch, Goniobranchus kuniei

Diana's chromodoris, Chromodoris dianae

Michael's chromodoris, Chromodoris michaeli

Anna's Phyllidiopsis, Phyllidiopsis annae

Sky Blue Phyllidea, Phyllidea coelestis

Pimpled phyllidiella, Phyllidiella pustulosa

Phyllidiella annulata

unidentfied species

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.

Marionia sp.

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.

Secret armina, Armina occulta

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.

Blue dragon, Pteraeolidia semperi