Common name: neapolitan spurilla

General information

Spurilla neapolitana, commonly known as the Mediterranean Sea Slug or Neapolitan Spurilla, is a species of aeolid nudibranch, a colorful sea slug found in the marine environment. This invertebrate is a member of the family Aeolidiidae. It is known for its striking appearance, with a translucent body adorned with orange or yellow cerata and blue tips, which are extensions on the body that function in respiration and defense.

Care

In the aquarium, Spurilla neapolitana requires a well-established system with plenty of live rock and a stable environment. They feed primarily on anemones, so it's essential to provide them with appropriate live food sources. Care should be taken to ensure that water quality is high, with stable parameters, as nudibranchs can be sensitive to fluctuations in water conditions.

Reproduction

Like many nudibranchs, Spurilla neapolitana is a hermaphrodite, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. They can lay masses of eggs in a gelatinous spiral, which will hatch into free-swimming larvae before settling down and developing into adults.

Symbiosis

While not involved in symbiosis like clownfish and anemones, the cerata of Spurilla neapolitana contain stinging cells called nematocysts, which are acquired from their anemone prey. These stinging cells provide the sea slug with a defense mechanism against predators.

Habitat

Spurilla neapolitana is found in shallow waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. They are often observed in coastal areas, on rocks, and among seagrass beds where their anemone prey is abundant.