2026 · Photo: Boaz Liebes
Cratena simba
Lion tentacle aeolid
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
- Size
- 7–15 mm
- Native range
- Western Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea to the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Japan
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Description
A small aeolid of the western Indo-Pacific, described from Tanzania, that feeds on hydroids. Like other aeolids it stores the stinging cells of its prey in white cnidosacs at the ceratal tips.
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/species/cratena-simba-phillipines-indo-pacific-south-china-sea/
Identification
Translucent greyish body crossed by several looped, transverse orange lines on the back. Smooth rhinophores and oral tentacles with white distal halves. Translucent cerata with a yellowish to red-brown digestive gland, white longitudinal lines and a white tip.
Similar species
Cratena peregrina (Mediterranean) has a white body with two orange head spots rather than looped orange lines across the back.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Shallow water, on hydroids growing on rocks or seagrass roots; recorded around 5 m.
Food
Hydroids, reportedly gymnoblast (athecate) hydroids such as Tubularia.