Sea slug

Grey sea slug

Devon Wildlife Trust

Sea slug

Enw gwyddonol: Aeolidia filomenae
This large sea slug is anything but dull!

Species information

Ystadegau

Up to 12cm long

Pryd i'w gweld

April to October

Ynghylch

This large species of ‘nudibranch’ sea slug feeds on a wide variety of sea anemones! They can lay up to 400,000 eggs on the underside of rock in a beautiful ribbon-like formation.

Sut i'w hadnabod

This large sea slug usually has grey, brown or fawn colouration. It is covered in lots of floppy projections unique to nudibranchs, known as ‘cerata’. It also has a white V-shaped mark on the front of its head. If you are recording your sightings as part of a recording scheme, make sure to include clear photographs to help verifiers confirm your sighting.

Dosbarthiad

Common around the British Isles and Ireland, as well as colder northern waters of Europe

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

Not only is this sea slug able to eat sea anemones without getting stung, but it can actually reproduce the anemone’s stinging cells into its own body for protection!

Sut y gall bobl helpu

Always follow the Seashore Code when rockpooling, taking care where you walk and making sure you put animals and rocks back gently. The Wildlife Trusts are working with sea users, scientists, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives.