 |
|
| sea slugs text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > sea slugs > Family Onchidiidae |
| Big
pimply onch slug awaiting identification* Family Onchidiidae updated Aug 10
Where seen? This medium to large onch slug is commonly seen, sometimes in large numbers, on many of our natural rocky shores. Usually on large rocks and boulders, also on small stones on rocky shores, sometimes also on sea walls. The slug is often covered with sand (so they probably burrow into sand to hide?). These slugs are usually well hidden on a warm and sunny day. But on cool days or early in the morning or at dusk, you might see lots of them crawling about. They can move quite fast! Features: 4-6cm. Body hard, broad and rather flat, sometimes with a raised hump along the centre of the body. Skin with many irregular bumps and pimples. Generally beige, brown to grey. Sometimes with spots in darker shades. The eyes are held on short stalks that stick out from under the tough pimply body. Most other snails have eyes at the base of tentacles. The underside of the body may have a bluish or greenish tinge, the narrower foot is beige. Avoid touching it as it is very slimy and generally slips out of your hands to bounce away among the rocks. Such slugs may get hurt. What does it eat? Like other onchs, it grazes on algae growing on the rocks. As it feeds, it often leaves a bare patch on the rock and a trail of 'processed algae' behind. |
 Raffles Lighthouse, Jul 06  A pair of tentacles.  Leaving behind a grazed patch, and a trail of 'processed algae'. |
Onchs are very well camouflaged. Don't step on them!
 Pooping from the other end. Tanah Merah, Dec 10 |
 One pair of eyes on stalks. The mouth is on the underside. Raffles Lighthouse, Jul 06 |
 On the underside, a broad foot. |
Big pimply onch slugs on Singapore shores
 Labrador, Jul 05 |
|
|
 Underside. |
|
|
 Changi, Dec 10 |
|
 |
more photos of big pimply onch slugs on Singapore shores
northern shores part 1 | part 2
southern shores part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4
*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
|
|