Nudibranchia

Cephalaspidea

Sacoglossa

Anaspidea

Notaspidea

Anadoridoidea

Chromodorididae

Dendrodorididae

Dorididae

Phyllidiidae

Dendronotina

Arminina

Aeolidina

Gills partially retracted.

In the Eudoridoidea the gills can be withdrawn into a pocket for protection. Another name for the superfamily is the "Cryptobranchia" which basically means "hidden gills".

Rhinophores partially retracted.

Body and mantle :

Tough, broad nudibranchs with an ample mantle skirt.

The dorsal mantle usually bears abundant, small, spiculose rounded and tapered tubercles which have a granular appearance and texture.

Autotomy of the edges of the mantle occurs.

Photo : D. boholiensis

Body and mantle :

The body is smooth, "slimy" but firm to the touch.

The mantle is thrown into a reticulate pattern of ridges, usually sharply angled ( not in some cases, such as H. tessellata )

The foot is narrower than the mantle and in some cases extends out beyond the posterior limit of the mantle.

Photo : H. formosa

Gills :

They have usually black and white gills with sometimes a little yellow

The gill axes are large and elongate with scattered pinnae arising along their length, with some secondary branching.

Rhinophores :

The rhinophore club is short, having relatively few laminae, but being approximately twice the diameter of the stalk

They have usually black and white rhinophores with sometimes a little yellow

The stalk is quite long.

Photo : H. formosa

Body and mantle :

The members of Carminodoris have prominent, rounded and tapered tubercles

Photo : C. grandiflora

Body and mantle :

Mantle is covered in small spiculate papillae (caryophyllidia) which are characteristic of that genus. The mantle have a rough texture.

Photo : Jorunna funebris

Body and mantle :

Species of Platydoris are easily recognized by their flattened, normally rigid (or coriaceous) body

Dorsum covered with very small caryophyllidia.

Photo : P. scabra

Gills and rhinophores:

Rhinophoral and branchial sheaths elevated. Branchial sheath generally lobate.

Photo P. scabra