Thuridilla gracilis (Thuridilla gracilis)

Thuridilla gracilis Kareko Batu, Lembeh. Geotagged,Indonesia,Spring,Thuridilla gracilis

Appearance

This species can be up to 25 mm in size. The body is partially covered by the fold of the lateral parapodia. The mantle is black and crossed by multiple fine white longitudinal lines punctuated sometimes with blue spots. The border of the lapel of the parapodia and rhinophores is often orange. The smooth rhinophores can be whitish without any lines.

Gracile Thuridilla Seen in Cabilao, Philippines (2012). Photo by Mark Bockstael (my husband).
Thuridilla gracilis is a species of sea slug, a sacoglossan, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Plakobranchidae. This species can be up to 25 mm in size. The body is partially covered by the fold of the lateral parapodia. The mantle is black and crossed by multiple fine white longitudinal lines (eight to ten) punctuated sometimes with blue spots. The border of the lapel of the parapodia and rhinophores is often orange. The smooth rhinophores can be whitish without any lines.
Habitat: It is an Indo-Pacific species that lives in or near coral reefs and eats algae. Fall,Geotagged,Philippines,Thuridilla gracilis

Distribution

This species occurs in the Tropical Indo/West-Pacific. It lives on the external slope of coral reefs, on top of the reef and in the lagoon, usually in shallow water.

Behavior

This species is benthic and diurnal. Because of its aposematic coloration, it crawls around to feed in the daylight. It has a diet based on algae.

Sea Slug - Thuridilla gracilis This Thuridilla gracilis Sea Slug can be up to 25 mm in size. The body is partially covered by the fold of the lateral parapodia. The mantle is black and crossed by multiple fine white longitudinal lines (eight to ten) punctuated sometimes with blue spots. The border of the lapel of the parapodia and rhinophores is often orange. The smooth rhinophores can be whitish without any lines. Geotagged,Kalanggaman,Philippines,Sea Slug,Spring,Thuridilla gracilis

Habitat

This species occurs in the Tropical Indo/West-Pacific. It lives on the external slope of coral reefs, on top of the reef and in the lagoon, usually in shallow water.

References:

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Taxonomy
Kingdom	Animalia
Division	Mollusca
Class	Gastropoda
Order	Sacoglossa
Family	Plakobranchidae
Genus	Thuridilla
Species	T. gracilis

Photographed in
Indonesia
Philippines