Thuridilla splendens

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Sacoglossa
Family: Plakobranchidae
Genus: Thuridilla
Species: Thuridilla splendens

Thuridilla splendens is a striped sacoglossan in the family Plakobranchidae. The folded flaps along its body, called parapodia, give Thuridilla a different outline from nudibranchs covered in finger-like cerata. Look at the stripe pattern as well as the head and flap margins.

Thuridilla belong to the sap-sucking sea slugs, which feed by piercing algal cells and removing their contents. The genus should not be confused with sponge-feeding dorids, even though both groups appear in many nudibranch guides.

For Philippine divers, the book provides a useful comparison when sorting photographs of colourful sea slugs. A clear record is more helpful than relying on a quick impression of colour underwater.

Try a low side angle that shows the parapodia without hiding the head. Stay neutrally buoyant, and never move the animal onto a cleaner background for a photograph.

It appears on page 365 of Nudibranchs of the Philippines.

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