Order : Nudibranchia
Suborder : Dexiarchia
Superfamily : Aeolidioidea
Family : Facelinidae
Distribution : Indo-West Pacific distribution
Maximal size : 20 mm
Abundance : Seldom if ever on the rocky coast

Species characteristics :

The body and the foot bear numerous brown spots and the pattern is repeated on the foot corners, basal half of the oral tentacles, lower two-thirds of the rhinophores and cerata except for the tip

The upper part of the cerata, oral tentacles and rhinophores are white, often with a diffuse yellow band

The general body colour is translucent with in some specimen a blue purple sheen more or less intense

Bibliographic data :

The body is translucent with scattered microscopic iridescent patches giving a bluish-purple sheen (may be very important in some specimen,see nudipixel..or Sea slug Forum..) to the body in certain lights.
    Below the white/yellow tip of the cerata, oral tentacles and rhinophores, is a translucent, blue or purplish zone with sometimes scattered white patches
    This is a small aeolid nudibranch with a long and slender body.
    The cerata are arranged in up to nine clusters in symmetrical pairs. They are relatively large, long, curved, circular and smooth
    The anterior foot corners are wedged-shaped and enlarge
    The tail is long and the tip is pointed
    The oral tentacles are extremely long and tapering, and their tips are pointed
    The smooth rhinophores are long and they taper to a round tip
    When it is irritated the cerata are immediately autotomised

Barbara Bini

Madagascar, Nosy bé, 20 m, 13 October 2017, size : 15 mm

Sully Bachel

Reunion, Ravine des Avirons, 10 m, 29 December 2009, size : 12 mm

Body and foot bear numerous brown spots (a) and the pattern is repeated on the foot corners, basal half of the oral tentacles, lower two-thirds of the rhinophores and cerata except for the tip

The upper part of the cerata (b), oral tentacles (c) and rhinophores (d) are white.

Below the white tip of the cerata, oral tentacles and rhinophores, is a translucent to bluish zone with scaterred white patches (e)

Philibert Bidgrain

Mayotte, Mtsanga Tanaraki, less 1 m, 25 Jully 2010, size : 10-12 mm

Small cerata in regeneration (a)

Philibert Bidgrain

Mayotte, Mtsanga Tanaraki, less 1 m, 8 August 2012, size : 12 mm