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Pustulose Wart Slug

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Pustulose Wart Slug
Photo by Nhobgood Nick Hobgood · CC BY-SA

About

This small, bumpy sea slug is one of the most common nudibranchs, or shell-less sea slugs, seen on Indo-Pacific reefs. It grows up to 6 cm long.

Also known as: pimpled phyllidellia

Length
6 cm
Depth
up to 38 m

How to tell it apart

This species can look like other Phyllidiella and Phyllidia sea slugs. The clearest mark is the back: three separate clusters of bumps in a row, not one long ridge. Its black-tipped feelers confirm the match.

Appearance

This sea slug has three clusters of small bumps, called tubercles, running down the middle of its back. They are usually pink, but can be pink, green, or white. In young animals these bumps run together in one line. In bigger adults they separate into clear groups. The edge of its mantle, the soft outer skin, is pale pink. The two feelers near its mouth are broad, triangular, and tipped in black.

Habitat

It lives on reefs across the tropical Indo-West Pacific. It is found in both shallow water near the shore and deeper water, at depths of 6 to 38 m.

Did you know?

Genetic tests show that what looks like one single species is really a group of several different ones that all look the same. This is called a species complex.

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