#seaslug — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #seaslug, aggregated by home.social.
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Nudibranch Ardeadoris egretta
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #photo #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch Ardeadoris egretta
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #photo #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch Ardeadoris egretta
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #photo #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch Ardeadoris egretta
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #photo #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch Ardeadoris egretta
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #photo #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
These are gorgeous. And the jawdropping capability to separate out the venomous bits and transport them to the ramparts (metaphorically speaking) - wow!
https://crookedtimber.org/2026/04/28/occasional-paper-blue-angels-devil-hands/
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These are gorgeous. And the jawdropping capability to separate out the venomous bits and transport them to the ramparts (metaphorically speaking) - wow!
https://crookedtimber.org/2026/04/28/occasional-paper-blue-angels-devil-hands/
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These are gorgeous. And the jawdropping capability to separate out the venomous bits and transport them to the ramparts (metaphorically speaking) - wow!
https://crookedtimber.org/2026/04/28/occasional-paper-blue-angels-devil-hands/
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These are gorgeous. And the jawdropping capability to separate out the venomous bits and transport them to the ramparts (metaphorically speaking) - wow!
https://crookedtimber.org/2026/04/28/occasional-paper-blue-angels-devil-hands/
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These are gorgeous. And the jawdropping capability to separate out the venomous bits and transport them to the ramparts (metaphorically speaking) - wow!
https://crookedtimber.org/2026/04/28/occasional-paper-blue-angels-devil-hands/
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Phyllodesmium briareum Mimicking Soft Coral on the Reef — Puerto Galera
Marine LifePhyllodesmium briareum — the Yellow-tipped Phyllodesmium — is a solar-powered aeolid nudibranch that mimics the soft coral it feeds on so precisely that most divers never see it. This individual was filmed moving through the reef in Puerto Galera, Philippines, at the northern edge of the Verde Island Passage.
Mimicry in Motion: The elongated cerata covering this animal are not coral polyps — they belong to a nudibranch. Phyllodesmium briareum mimics the briareid soft corals it feeds on so closely that the only reliable way to spot one is to notice that part of the coral is moving.
Phyllodesmium briareum — Species Identification
- Scientific NamePhyllodesmium briareum (Bergh, 1896)
- Common NameYellow-tipped Phyllodesmium
- ClassificationFamily Myrrhinidae — an aeolid nudibranch (Order Nudibranchia, Suborder Aeolidina)
- AppearanceTranslucent purple-grey body with elongated cerata bearing white or yellow tips; brown zooxanthellae visible through the tissue as rows of fine specks
- SizeUp to 25mm (~1″)
- DietCarnivore — feeds on briareid soft corals
- RangeTropical Indo-Pacific; Indonesia, Philippines, and Australia, typically reef-associated at 5–25m depth
Puerto Galera sits at the northern edge of the Verde Island Passage — one of the most biodiverse marine corridors on the planet — and the reefs here are rich in the soft corals that Phyllodesmium species depend on. Finding one is less a matter of looking for a nudibranch and more a matter of staring at a patch of soft coral long enough to notice that part of it is moving.
The genus name Phyllodesmium translates roughly to “leaf-like body,” and the species name briareum references Briareos — one of the hundred-handed giants of Greek mythology. It is an apt name for an animal covered in waving, arm-like cerata that match the size, shape, and posture of coral polyps so precisely that the animal disappears into its food source. The species was first described by Bergh in 1896 from specimens collected in Ambon, Indonesia, and has since been documented across the tropical western Pacific.
Solar-Powered Sea Slug: Unlike most nudibranchs, P. briareum harbors zooxanthellae — symbiotic algae harvested from the soft corals it eats. Rather than digesting these single-celled organisms, the nudibranch sequesters them in specialized ducts within its digestive gland, where they continue to photosynthesize and supply the animal with nutrients. It is, in effect, a nudibranch that runs partly on sunlight. According to research documented on the Sea Slug Forum, the zooxanthellae are visible as rows of brown specks through the animal’s translucent body wall — a useful field mark when trying to confirm genus-level identification underwater.
Autotomy Defense: If threatened, Phyllodesmium species can deliberately shed one or more cerata. The detached appendages continue to writhe on the substrate, drawing a predator’s attention while the animal crawls away. The cerata regenerate over time. This defense mechanism, combined with the animal’s near-perfect visual mimicry, makes P. briareum one of the more resilient small invertebrates on the reef — well-defended for something barely an inch long.
Filming Camouflaged Subjects: Close-focus macro work on a subject this well-camouflaged requires a deliberate search pattern and a slow approach. This was shot on the Panasonic GH5 with a 60mm macro lens in a Nauticam housing. The challenge is not the filming itself but the finding — and once found, holding position long enough to let the animal reveal its movement against the coral backdrop. The same patience applies to other cryptic marine life encounters — like filming a Ceratosoma trilobatum laying eggs in Lembeh Strait.
No artificial manipulation of the subject. The animal was filmed exactly as encountered on the reef.
Note on Identification: Phyllodesmium species are notoriously difficult to identify to species level in the field. This individual is tentatively identified as P. briareum based on cerata morphology and the soft coral substrate it was associated with. Over 20 species exist in the genus, and several overlap in range and appearance across the Philippines.
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Persian carpet flatworm - Pseudobiceros bedfordi
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #photo #ocean #sealife #marinelife #flatworm #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch - Nembrotha kubaryana
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #photo #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch Chromodoris reticulata
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #photo #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch - Nembrotha kubaryana
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #photo #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
This black-and-white sea slug may look like a nudibranch, but it’s actually a headshield slug. Meet Pilsbry’s Headshield Slug.
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Coral reef with a nudibranch
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #photo #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch - Nembrotha kubaryana
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #uwphoto #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch - Phyllidia varicosa
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #uwphoto #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch #phyllidia -
@Notesfromtheroad
I literally gasped - great photo! -
Nudibranch Chromodoris reticulata
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch Phyllidia ocellata
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #ocean #sealife #marinelife #phyllidia #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch Chromodoris reticulata
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Ceratosoma trilobatum Laying Its Egg Ribbon in Lembeh Strait
The Tri-lobed Ceratosoma, or Ribbon Nudibranch, is a visually captivating marine species found in the Indo-Pacific. This salmon-pink slug exhibits unique egg-laying behavior, depositing a coiled ribbon while moving across the substrate. Filming these behaviors in Lembeh Strait requires patience, as natural movement is essential to capture these rare moments.https://scubahanknyc.com/2026/03/04/ceratosoma-trilobatum-laying-its-egg-ribbon-in-lembeh-strait/
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Nudibranch Chromodoris reticulata
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch chromodoris
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Pilsbry’s Headshield Slug: The Black & White Sea Slug That’s Not a Nudibranch
Marine LifeIf you spotted this striking black and white creature crawling across the muck of Lembeh Strait and thought “nudibranch” — you’re not alone. But this is actually a Pilsbry’s Headshield Slug, a fascinating sea slug that belongs to an entirely different order. Meet one of the ocean’s most surprising and least-known predators.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr8HI6Vn-VM]Not a nudibranch — a headshield slug: Despite being commonly mistaken for a nudibranch, Tubulophilinopsis pilsbryi belongs to the order Cephalaspidea. It uses its broad, fleshy head shield like a bulldozer to plow through sandy sediment, hunting down other sea slugs and bubble snails in the muck of Lembeh Strait, Indonesia.
Species Identification
- Head Shield Broad, fleshy, and paddle-like — used to bulldoze through sandy sediment while hunting prey.
- Coloration Highly variable — typically white with black reticulated patterns, though some individuals appear nearly all black with white spots.
- Size Typically up to 2 inches (5 cm) in length.
- Depth Range 10–80 feet (3–25 m), most commonly encountered in shallow muck diving environments.
- Diet Carnivorous — preys on other sea slugs and bubble snails, which it engulfs using a long, tube-like pharynx.
- Common Names Pilsbry’s Headshield Slug, Black and White Sea Slug, Black and White Headshield Slug
- Scientific Name Tubulophilinopsis pilsbryi (also known as Philinopsis pilsbryi)
- Classification Order Cephalaspidea — a headshield slug, NOT a nudibranch, despite frequent misidentification.
- Range Indo-Pacific — from Lembeh Strait and the Solomon Islands to Hawaii.
Despite its adorable appearance, the Pilsbry’s Headshield Slug is a highly specialized and surprisingly ferocious predator. It uses its broad, fleshy head shield — the defining feature of the Cephalaspidea order — like a bulldozer, plowing through sandy muck to track down prey. Once it locks on to another sea slug or bubble snail, it engulfs its victim using a long, tube-like pharynx. No chewing, no hesitation. Just a ruthless, efficient hunter.
One of the most common misidentifications in underwater photography is calling this animal a nudibranch. While nudibranchs and headshield slugs are both sea slugs, they belong to entirely different branches of the taxonomic tree. Nudibranchs fall under the order Nudibranchia, whereas the Pilsbry’s Headshield Slug belongs to Cephalaspidea — a group defined by that distinctive fleshy shield at the front of the body, which is used for burrowing and digging rather than for display.
The species was named in honor of Henry Augustus Pilsbry, one of the most prolific malacologists — scientists who study mollusks — in American history. Pilsbry described hundreds of species during his career and remains a towering figure in the study of gastropods. This slug is a fitting tribute: rare, distinctive, and not quite what it first appears to be.
In terms of coloration, Tubulophilinopsis pilsbryi is highly variable. Some individuals display a crisp white body with bold black reticulated patterning, while others appear nearly all black with scattered white markings. This variability can make identification tricky in the field and contributes to the frequency with which it’s mistaken for various nudibranch species.
Found across the Indo-Pacific — from the muck sites of Lembeh Strait and the reefs of the Solomon Islands all the way to Hawaii — this species has a wide range but is considered an infrequent find. It tends to be solitary, and sightings are rare enough that encountering one is always a highlight of any dive. Lembeh Strait, with its rich, nutrient-dense muck and extraordinary biodiversity, remains one of the best places on the planet to spot one.
#BlackAndWhite #Indonesia #marineLife #PilsbrySHeadshield #seaSlug #TubulophilinopsisPilsbryi -
Nudibranch Halgerda batangas
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Ragged Seahare (Bursatella leachii)
#SeaSlug #SeaLife #ArtWithOpenSource #CCBYSA #Darktable #MarineLife #Gastropoda #Gastropods #SeaSlugs #Mollusca #Molluscs #Animals #AnimalPhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Nature #NaturePhotography #Photo #Photography
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Ragged Seahare (Bursatella leachii)
#SeaSlug #SeaLife #ArtWithOpenSource #CCBYSA #Darktable #MarineLife #Gastropoda #Gastropods #SeaSlugs #Mollusca #Molluscs #Animals #AnimalPhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Nature #NaturePhotography #Photo #Photography
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Nudibranch Reticulidia
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch -
Nudibranch Chromodoris leopardus
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch #chromodoris -
Ever since my brother introduced me to sea slugs and marine flatworms, I have been captivated by their otherworldly presence and fluidity. What sea creature or plant is your fascination and why?
#seaslug #seaslug #flatworm #marinelife #marineflatworm #gastropod #nudibranch #fascination #question #oceaninspired #whatfascinatesyou #oceanlove #seacreatures #sealife #sealifeart
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Ever since my brother introduced me to sea slugs and marine flatworms, I have been captivated by their otherworldly presence and fluidity. What sea creature or plant is your fascination and why?
#seaslug #seaslug #flatworm #marinelife #marineflatworm #gastropod #nudibranch #fascination #question #oceaninspired #whatfascinatesyou #oceanlove #seacreatures #sealife #sealifeart
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Ever since my brother introduced me to sea slugs and marine flatworms, I have been captivated by their otherworldly presence and fluidity. What sea creature or plant is your fascination and why?
#seaslug #seaslug #flatworm #marinelife #marineflatworm #gastropod #nudibranch #fascination #question #oceaninspired #whatfascinatesyou #oceanlove #seacreatures #sealife #sealifeart
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Ever since my brother introduced me to sea slugs and marine flatworms, I have been captivated by their otherworldly presence and fluidity. What sea creature or plant is your fascination and why?
#seaslug #seaslug #flatworm #marinelife #marineflatworm #gastropod #nudibranch #fascination #question #oceaninspired #whatfascinatesyou #oceanlove #seacreatures #sealife #sealifeart
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Ever since my brother introduced me to sea slugs and marine flatworms, I have been captivated by their otherworldly presence and fluidity. What sea creature or plant is your fascination and why?
#seaslug #seaslug #flatworm #marinelife #marineflatworm #gastropod #nudibranch #fascination #question #oceaninspired #whatfascinatesyou #oceanlove #seacreatures #sealife #sealifeart
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Every piece carries the memory of where it was born—this one holds Malibu’s salt air and the essence of nudibranchs and sea slugs.
"Malibu Waves"
Sea Dancer Series
White stoneware, glaze
2.5"Hx6"Wx3"D
DM for Purchase
Follow me to see which location I choose to create art in next...
#OceanInspiredArt #sylviealvarezart #ceramicsculpture #clayinnature #MalibuBeachVibes #homedecor #artforsale #artforinteriors #nudibranch #seaslug #womenartists #ArtCollectors
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My new art process - Healing with Art in Nature. Thought you might like to see my outdoor studio, this time on Malibu Beach, CA.
"Malibu Waves" is currently available for purchase. DM if interested.
#sylviealvarezart #artandhealing #artandnature #artinnature #oceaninspired #nudibranch #seaslug #lovewhatido #MalibuBeach #MalibuBeachVibes #OceanHealing #SeasideStudio #ceramicsculpture #clayinnature
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Nudibranch Chromodoris leopardus
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch #Chromodoris -
Nudibranch Chromodoris leopardus
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch #chromodoris -
Nudibranch Chromodoris reticulata
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #seaslug #nudibranch #Chromodoris