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| nudibranchs text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > sea slugs > Order Nudibranchia |
| Melibe
nudibranch Melibe viridis Family Tethydidae updated Oct 10 Where seen? This large nudibranch is sometimes on Cyrene Reefs, among seagrasses. It may be seasonal: when seen, many individuals are encountered. Features: 6-12cm long. Soft body with about 8 large lobes arranged in two rows along the body length. These lobes stick to predators and detach, so please don't handle the nudibranch. Like other Melibe species, it has an expandable hood which it uses to trap small prey. It can 'swim', doing so upside down by vigorously touching its head to its tail. See Chay Hoon's video clips of the hood in action, and the animal swimming. Its foot is said to be better suited to clinging to seaweeds and seagrasses than for creeping along the ground. |
 Cyrene Reef, May 08 |
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Melibe nudibranchs on Singapore shores
 Cyrene Reef, Apr 08 |
 With expandable hood. |
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 Cyrene Reef, Apr 08 |
 Swims upside down. |
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| Acknowledgement With grateful thanks to Toh Chay Hoon for obtaining the identification from Dr Bill Rudman and posting it on her blog. Links
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