Sea Slugs
Sea slugs, also known as nudibranchs, are a captivating and colorful addition to any reef aquarium. These fascinating creatures belong to the class Gastropoda. What makes sea slugs particularly unique is their striking coloration and intricate patterns, which can range from vibrant blues and reds to more subdued pastels. This vivid coloration often serves as a warning to potential predators about their toxicity or distastefulness, a defense mechanism known as aposematism.
Sea slugs have come in various adaptations that make them intriguing to both hobbyists and scientists. Some species are known to incorporate toxins from their prey, such as sponges or hydroids, into their own tissues, providing them with chemical defenses. Others can perform kleptoplasty, a process where they sequester chloroplasts from algae they consume, allowing them to photosynthesize and produce energy from light.
Caring for sea slugs in a reef aquarium can be challenging, as they often have very specialized diets. Many species feed exclusively on certain types of sponges, bryozoans, or hydroids, making it crucial to ensure a stable and adequate food supply. Additionally, sea slugs are sensitive to water quality and require stable, pristine conditions to thrive. They are also generally short-lived, with lifespans ranging from a few months to a couple of years.
Before adding sea slugs to your aquarium, it's essential to research the specific needs of the species you're interested in. Providing a suitable environment and diet is key to their health and longevity. Despite the challenges, the reward of observing these extraordinary creatures up close can be well worth the effort.
- Common name: Branching Hammer CoralScientific name: Adreus fascicularis
- Common name: A nudibranchScientific name: Aegires minor
- Common name: Green and black gill guard slugScientific name: Aegires serenae
- Common name: Aldisa barlettaiScientific name: Aldisa barlettai
- Common name: California Sea HareScientific name: Aplysia californica
- Common name: Brown Sea HareScientific name: Aplysia depilans
- Common name: mottled sea hareScientific name: Aplysia fasciata
- Common name: spotted sea hareScientific name: Aplysia punctata
- Common name: Ardeadoris egrettaScientific name: Ardeadoris egretta
- Common name: NudibranchScientific name: Asteronotus cespitosus
- Common name: Berghia NudibranchScientific name: Berghia stephanieae
- Common name: Marten's BerthellaScientific name: Berthella martensi
- Common name: Bulb AnemoneScientific name: Boloceroides mcmurrichi
- Common name: A nudibranchScientific name: Cadlinella ornatissima
- Common name: Indian CaloriaScientific name: Caloria indica
- Common name: purple-edged ceratosomaScientific name: Ceratosoma tenue
- Common name: trilobate ceratosomaScientific name: Ceratosoma trilobatum
- Common name: Red box sea cucumberScientific name: Cercodemas anceps
- Common name: pleasant chelidonuraScientific name: Chelidonura amoena
- Common name: White-capped swallowtail slugScientific name: Chelidonura inornata
- Common name: Chelidonura pallidaScientific name: Chelidonura pallida
- Common name: Variable ChelidonuraScientific name: Chelidonura varians
- Common name: Anna's ChromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris annae
- Common name: Chromodoris aspersaScientific name: Chromodoris aspersa
- Common name: Diana's ChromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris dianae
- Common name: elisabeth's chromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris elisabethina
- Common name: leopard chromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris leopardus
- Common name: loch's chromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris lochi
- Common name: Magnificent ChromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris magnifica
- Common name: Michael's NudibranchScientific name: Chromodoris michaeli
- Common name: pyjama slugScientific name: Chromodoris quadricolor
- Common name: Strigate ChromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris strigata
- Common name: willan's chromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris willani
- Common name: Leaf SheepScientific name: Costasiella kuroshimae
- Common name: Crimora luteaScientific name: Crimora lutea
- Common name: bohol discodorisScientific name: Discodoris boholiensis
- Common name: blunt-end sea hareScientific name: Dolabella auricularia
- Common name: Black-margined DoriprismaticaScientific name: Doriprismatica atromarginata
- Common name: Starry NudibranchScientific name: Doriprismatica stellata
- Common name: crown dotoScientific name: Doto coronata
- Common name: lettuce slugScientific name: Elysia crispata
- Common name: Eastern Pacific Emerald ElysiaScientific name: Elysia diomedea
- Common name: lettuce slugScientific name: Elysia ornata
- Common name: Sapsucking SlugScientific name: Elysia verrucosa
- Common name: green elysiaScientific name: Elysia viridis
- Common name: Ercolania boodleaeScientific name: Ercolania boodleae
- Common name: much-desired flabellinaScientific name: Flabellina exoptata
- Common name: purple aeolisScientific name: Flabellina iodinea
- Common name: striped flabellinaScientific name: Flabellina lineata
- Common name: red-lined flabellinaScientific name: Flabellina rubrolineata
- Common name: A nudibranchScientific name: Glossodoris cincta
- Common name: hikuero glossodorisScientific name: Glossodoris hikuerensis
- Common name: Pallid glossodorisScientific name: Glossodoris pallida
- Common name: brown margin glossodorisScientific name: Glossodoris rufomarginata
- Common name: Goniobranchus albopunctatusScientific name: Goniobranchus albopunctatus
- Common name: Goniobranchus aliusScientific name: Goniobranchus alius
- Common name: Ringed chromodorisScientific name: Goniobranchus annulatus
- Common name: Purple-Edged CeratosomaScientific name: Goniobranchus aureopurpureus
- Common name: co's goniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus coi
- Common name: Collingwood's ChromodorisScientific name: Goniobranchus collingwoodi
- Common name: Reliable GoniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus fidelis
- Common name: Twin GoniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus geminus
- Common name: goemetric goniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus geometricus
- Common name: lumpy goniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus hintuanensis
- Common name: Kuni's nudibranchScientific name: Goniobranchus kuniei
- Common name: red-netted goniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus reticulatus
- Common name: red-netted goniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus tinctorius
- Common name: NudibranchScientific name: Goniobranchus tritos
- Common name: angled dorisScientific name: Goniodoris nodosa
- Common name: Red spotted transluscent slugScientific name: Gymnodoris ceylonica
- Common name: batangas halgerdaScientific name: Halgerda batangas
- Common name: Halgerda carlsoniScientific name: Halgerda carlsoni
- Common name: willey's halgerdaScientific name: Halgerda willeyi
- Common name: bearded firewormScientific name: Hermodice carunculata
- Common name: Spanish dancerScientific name: Hexabranchus sanguineus
- Common name: Giant hypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris apolegma
- Common name: Bullocks HypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris bullockii
- Common name: Kanga HypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris kanga
- Common name: spotted hypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris maculosa
- Common name: beautiful hypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris pulchella
- Common name: tryon's hypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris tryoni
- Common name: Sea SlugScientific name: Jorunna funebris
- Common name: red-lined jorunnaScientific name: Jorunna rubescens
- Common name: Limenandra NodosaScientific name: Limenandra nodosa
- Common name: Red Sea Feather StarScientific name: Manucomplanus varians
- Common name: Marie's MexichromisScientific name: Mexichromis mariei
- Common name: Beau Vallon magnificent slugScientific name: Mexichromis multituberculata
- Common name: jolly gree giantScientific name: Miamira sinuata
- Common name: miniature meloScientific name: Micromelo undatus
- Common name: crested nembrothaScientific name: Nembrotha cristata
- Common name: lined nembrothaScientific name: Nembrotha lineolata
- Common name: bighorn nembrothaScientific name: Nembrotha megalocera
- Common name: purple-lined nembrothaScientific name: Nembrotha purpureolineata
- Common name: Nembrotha yonowaeScientific name: Nembrotha yonowae
- Common name: Alcino's FlatwormScientific name: Notoplana alcinoi
- Common name: Triangular Pygmy GobyScientific name: Paraclavarina triangularis
- Common name: Parvocaulis parvulusScientific name: Parvocaulis parvulus
- Common name: Graeffe's Sea CucumberScientific name: Pearsonothuria graeffei
- Common name: Phestilla lugubrisScientific name: Phestilla lugubris
- Common name: black gilled phestillaScientific name: Phestilla melanobrachia
- Common name: Gardiner's headshield slugScientific name: Philinopsis gardineri
- Common name: Phyllidia babaiScientific name: Phyllidia babai
- Common name: Celestial PhyllidiaScientific name: Phyllidia coelestis
- Common name: elegant PhyllidiaScientific name: Phyllidia elegans
- Common name: Phyllidia exquisitaScientific name: Phyllidia exquisita
- Common name: Blue nudibranchScientific name: Phyllidia picta
- Common name: varicose PhyllidiaScientific name: Phyllidia varicosa
- Common name: Pustulose wart slugScientific name: Phyllidiella pustulosa
- Common name: rose PhyllidiellaScientific name: Phyllidiella rosans
- Common name: Anna's PhyllidiopsisScientific name: Phyllidiopsis annae
- Common name: Phyllidiopsis pipekiScientific name: Phyllidiopsis pipeki
- Common name: Shireen's PhyllidiopsisScientific name: Phyllidiopsis shireenae
- Common name: Solar Powered NudibranchScientific name: Phyllodesmium briareum
- Common name: Solar-powered PhyllodesmiumScientific name: Phyllodesmium longicirrum
- Common name: Great PhyllodesmiumScientific name: Phyllodesmium magnum
- Common name: Flat camouflaged slugScientific name: Plakobranchus ocellatus
- Common name: Flat peach slugScientific name: Platydoris formosa
- Common name: Forskal's side-gilled slugScientific name: Pleurobranchus forskalii
- Common name: grand pleurobranchScientific name: Pleurobranchus grandis
- Common name: Four-lined NudibranchScientific name: Polycera quadrilineata