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Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > sea slugs > Order Nudibranchia
Blue-spot nudibranch
Dendrodoris denisoni
Family Dendrodorididae
updated May 2020
Where seen? This delightfully bobbled nudibranch with electric blue spots is sometimes seen among seagrasses and seaweeds on our Northern shores, as well as at Cyrene Reef. Often seen in numbers, and then not seen again for some time.

Features: 5-10cm long. Broad, soft body with lots of bumps and pimples, and distinctive electric blue spots. Thick club-like rhinophores and large feathery gills. The animal is generally beige sometimes with a purplish or pinkish tinge. Younger animals may be more colourful than older ones.

Pulau Sekudu, May 05
What does it eat? It eats sponges, possibly sponges that live in murky, mucky sites. It lacks a radula and jaws so it can't rasp or chew its food sponge. Instead, it secretes digestive juices onto the sponge and then sucks up the softened sponge. How is it the juices don't leak away into the surrounding water? Dr Bill Rudman explainshow structures around the mouth might help it form a seal around the feeding site.

Tanah Merah, May 09

Underside.

Beting Bronok, Jul 07


Tiny one, hardly wider than a seagrass blade.
Cyrene Reef, Jun 08
Shared by Toh Chay Hoon on flickr.

Laying eggs.
Sisters Island, Apr 14

Blue-spot nudibranchs on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Punggol, Aug 20
Photo by Richard Kuah on facebook.

Pasir Ris Park, Sep 20
Photos shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.


Changi, May 21
Photos shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook..


Pulau Sekudu, Apr 06

Mating and laying eggs.
Photos shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Chek Jawa, Jul 19
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.


Diseased?
Tanah Merah, Dec 11
Photo shared by James Koh on flickr


Berlayar Creek, Oct 17
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.

A pair mating?
Tanah Merah, May 09
Photos shared by James Koh on flickr.



Tanah Merah, Dec 09
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.


Pulau Semakau, Nov 07
Photo shared by Toh Chay Hoon on her flickr.

Pulau Semakau (South), Jan 22
Photo shared by James Koh on facebook.


Pulau Hantu, Jun 08
Photo shared by Loh Koh Sheng on his blog.

Kusu Island, Sep 10
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.



Cyrene Reef, Dec 16
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.

Links
References
  • Tan Siong Kiat and Henrietta P. M. Woo, 2010 Preliminary Checklist of The Molluscs of Singapore (pdf), Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore.
  • Debelius, Helmut, 2001. Nudibranchs and Sea Snails: Indo-Pacific Field Guide IKAN-Unterwasserachiv, Frankfurt. 321 pp.
  • Wells, Fred E. and Clayton W. Bryce. 2000. Slugs of Western Australia: A guide to the species from the Indian to West Pacific Oceans. Western Australian Museum. 184 pp.
  • Coleman, Neville. 2001. 1001 Nudibranchs: Catalogue of Indo-Pacific Sea Slugs. Neville Coleman's Underwater Geographic Pty Ltd, Australia.144pp.
  • Gosliner, Terrence M., David W. Behrens and Gary C. Williams. 1996. Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific: Animal life from Africa to Hawaii exclusive of the vertebrates Sea Challengers. 314pp.
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