Marine Life / Nudibranchs

Samla riwo

kingdom

Animalia

phylum

Mollusca

class

Gastropoda

order

Nudibranchia

family

Samlidae

genus

Samla

species

Samla riwo

Samla riwo is an aeolid nudibranch in the family Samlidae. The animal shown here carries white cerata along its body. When comparing it with similar slugs, examine the head, rhinophores and arrangement of the cerata rather than relying on white colour alone.

Members of Samlidae feed on hydroid polyps. Hydroid colonies can be delicate and easily damaged, so observing an animal on its natural surface is better than trying to isolate it for a photograph. An exact prey species is not established here.

For divers in the Philippines, the book is a useful reference for separating similar aeolids after a dive. Several clear views are more informative than a tightly cropped portrait alone.

White cerata can be overexposed against a dark background. Reduce harsh lighting, focus on the head, and let the animal move naturally without prodding it into position.

It appears on page 220 of Nudibranchs of the Philippines.

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