Polka-dot
nudibranch
Jorunna
funebris
Family
Kentodoridae/Dorididae
updated
Sep 12
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
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Black edged gills
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The spots are actually arrangements
of tiny black bristles.
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Polka-dot
nudibranchs on Singapore shores

Chomping on a blue sponge?
Pulau Semakau, Jan 09
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Chomping on a blue sponge?
South Cyrene, Feb 11
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Ate something large?
Pulau Semakau, Mar 08
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Mating
Pulau Semakau, Feb 08
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Mating
Tanah Merah, Aug 11
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Tiny, about 1cm. Several seen.
Sentosa, Jan 06
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Black
dendrodoris nudibranchs on Singapore shores
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.
- Chou, L.
M., 1998. A
Guide to the Coral Reef Life of Singapore. Singapore Science
Centre. 128 pages.
- 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.
- Coleman,
Neville, 1989. Nudibranchs
of the South Pacific Vol 1. 64 pp.
- Humann, Paul
and Ned Deloach. 2010. Reef
Creature Identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications.
497pp.
- Gosliner,
Terrence M., David W. Behrens and Gary C. Williams. 1996. Coral
Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific: Animal life from Africa to Hawai’I
exclusive of the vertebrates
Sea Challengers. 314pp.
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