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| nudibranchs text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > sea slugs > Order Nudibranchia |
| Polka-dot
nudibranch Jorunna funebris Family Kentodoridae/Dorididae updated Aug 10 Where seen? This distinctive elegantly-spotted nudibranch is regularly encountered on many our shores. Sometimes lots are seen. On coral rubble near reefs. Features: 1- 6cm long. Fleshy oval body, white with black circular markings. These markings are actually made up of tiny raised black bristles on the skin (called caryophyllidia). In fact, the entire body is covered with bristles, which are mostly white, giving the animal a fuzzy appearance. It has black-tipped rhinophores and black edging on feathery gills on the back. What does it eat? It is said to eat a blue sponge (Neopetrosia sp.). Indeed, on Pulau Sekudu, we often see large Polka-dot jorunna nudibranchs near these sponges, sometimes in pairs, and sometimes appearing to have just having laid a ribbon-like egg mass. |
 Sentosa, Mar 05 |
 Black edged gills |
 The spots are actually arrangements of tiny black bristles. |
Polka-dot nudibranchs on Singapore shores
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 Chomping on a blue sponge? Pulau Semakau, Jan 09 |
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 St. John's Island, Jun 07  Next to a chomped up blue sponge. |
 Pulau Semakau, Feb 08  Mating |
 Sentosa, Jan 06  Tiny, about 1cm. Several seen. |
more photos and video clips of polka-dot nudibranchs on Singapore shores
northern shores
southern shores part 1 | part 2 | part 3
Links
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IKAN-Unterwasserachiv, Frankfurt. 321 pp.|
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