Chelidonura hirundinina
Swallowtail headshield slug
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
- Size
- 20–30 mm
- Native range
- Tropical Indo-West Pacific; also recorded from the Caribbean.
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Description
A small, fast-moving headshield slug (Aglajidae) known as the swallowtail headshield slug for the two long 'tails' at the rear of its body. It hunts by crawling over sand and rubble, using sensory bristles beside the mouth to find prey.
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/species/chelidonura-hirundinina-phillipines-indo-pacific-south-china-sea/
Identification
Black body crossed by fine white, yellow and blue-green lines and spots; colour pattern varies between regions. Broad, squared-off head shield and a pair of slender tail-like extensions at the rear.
Similar species
Chelidonura philinopsis is very similarly coloured and may be just a colour form. Other Chelidonura species (e.g. C. varians, C. electra) differ in colour pattern.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Shallow sand, rubble and algal flats on and around coral reefs.
Food
Acoel flatworms.