Marine Life / Nudibranchs

Samla bilas

kingdom

Animalia

phylum

Mollusca

class

Gastropoda

order

Nudibranchia

family

Samlidae

genus

Samla

species

Samla bilas

Samla bilas is an aeolid nudibranch in the family Samlidae. It has a pale body with purple-white lines and clusters of orange-brown cerata tipped in white. Recording the body pattern beneath the cerata helps when comparing it with other Samla.

Members of Samlidae feed on hydroid polyps. These small colonial animals are easily overlooked and can be damaged by careless camera placement. The exact hydroid prey of the animal shown here is not established by the photographs.

For divers in the Philippines, a clear image of the head and dorsal markings is useful when checking the book after a dive. Similar-looking aeolids should not be separated by one colour alone.

Try a slightly elevated side angle to show both the body lines and the cerata. Keep the white tips from becoming overexposed, and wait for a natural pose rather than touching the slug.

It appears on page 220 of Nudibranchs of the Philippines.

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