Marine Life / Nudibranchs

Trapania scurra

kingdom

Animalia

phylum

Mollusca

class

Gastropoda

order

Nudibranchia

family

Goniodorididae

genus

Trapania

species

Trapania scurra

Trapania scurra is a small dorid in the family Goniodorididae. It has a white body with large brown to orange patches, with purple on the tips of its foot and appendages. Curved processes beside the rhinophores and gills help identify the genus.

Trapania are often found on sponges, but they feed on tiny entoprocts living on the surface rather than on the sponge itself. This distinction is useful when watching a slug moving across a sponge.

For divers in the Philippines, a slow inspection of sponge surfaces can be more rewarding than a quick search for bright colours. Compare the whole pattern with the book rather than relying on one patch.

A macro lens helps separate the fine appendages from the background. Aim to show the rhinophores, gills and purple accents together, while keeping fins and camera equipment clear of the sponge.

It appears on page 56 of Nudibranchs of the Philippines.

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