Ardeadoris egretta
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
- Size
- 40–70 mm · max 120 mm
- Native range
- Tropical western Pacific (Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Japan), possibly the Indian Ocean.
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Description
A large, elegant white chromodorid nudibranch, named after the white egret. Its broad mantle has a wavy, undulating edge that it often flaps while crawling over the reef.
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/species/ardeadoris-egretta-phillipines-indo-pacific-south-china-sea/
Identification
Pure white body with an undulating mantle edge bordered by an opaque white band and a thin yellow-orange to golden margin. Rhinophores translucent white with fine white lines. Long, tapering white gills form an arc, often with spirally coiled tips.
Similar species
Glossodoris pallida, Chromodoris aureomarginata and Noumea nivalis are also white with a yellow border, but are smaller and lack the large, strongly undulating mantle; reliable separation of some look-alikes needs internal anatomy.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Coral reefs, typically on reef slopes and walls.
Food
Like other chromodorids, feeds on sponges.
