Platydoris cinereobranchia
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Mollusca
- Class
- Gastropoda
- Order
- Nudibranchia
- Family
- Discodorididae
- Genus
- Platydoris
- Species
- Platydoris cinereobranchia
Platydoris cinereobranchia is a dorid nudibranch in the family Discodorididae. Platydoris species are broad, flat and stiff, and can look more like a patch of encrusting growth than a slug.
Its mantle is a mottled mix of cream, orange and brown with bright red blotches. The texture is fine and slightly rough, and the body is wide and flattened with a wavy edge.
Like other dorids it breathes through a ring of gills at the rear of the back, which it can pull in when disturbed. Discodorid dorids feed on sponges.
In the Philippines it is easy to swim past because the colours blend with the reef and rubble. Look for the red blotches, and shoot from above to show the whole mantle pattern.
It appears on page 96 of Nudibranchs of the Philippines.
Get our entire Nudibranchs of the Philippines book.