Marine Life / Nudibranchs

Hermaea sp. 1

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Mollusca

Class

Gastropoda

Order

Sacoglossa

Family

Hermaeidae

Genus

Hermaea

Species

Hermaea sp. 1

Hermaea sp. 1 is a sacoglossan in the family Hermaeidae, with orange cerata tipped in purple. It has not yet been formally described. The number used here follows the book and should not be treated as a formal species name.

Hermaea are sap-sucking sea slugs that feed on algae by piercing cells and drawing out their contents. Their cerata can make them resemble aeolid nudibranchs, but that similar outline does not mean they share the same diet.

On a Philippine dive, close attention to algae can reveal subjects that disappear into the background at normal viewing distance. Avoid tearing or rearranging the algae while searching for a better view.

Use a macro lens and focus carefully on the head. A second photograph showing the full arrangement of the cerata is useful for comparing an unnamed animal with the book later.

It appears on page 351 of Nudibranchs of the Philippines.

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