Marine Life / Nudibranchs

Noumeaella sp. 1

kingdom

Animalia

phylum

Mollusca

class

Gastropoda

order

Nudibranchia

family

Facelinidae

genus

Noumeaella

species

Noumeaella sp. 1

Noumeaella sp. 1 is an aeolid nudibranch in the family Facelinidae. It has not yet been formally described. A dense mass of curling orange cerata with pale tips covers its back, making the head easy to lose among the projections.

Many facelinid nudibranchs feed on hydroids, but the exact prey of this unnamed form is not established here. Cerata are living extensions of the slug's body and contribute to gas exchange; they should never be touched or rearranged.

For Philippine divers, a numbered book identification is a useful way to compare sightings while a formal species name is unavailable. Keep photographs of both the head and the whole animal for later reference.

Use a macro lens and wait for the rhinophores to emerge clearly from the cerata. A low side angle can help, provided you can take it without disturbing the surrounding reef.

It appears on page 249 of Nudibranchs of the Philippines.

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