2026 · Photo: Boaz Liebes
Elysia nigropunctata
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
- Size
- 10–20 mm · max 25 mm
- Depth
- 0–10 m
- Native range
- Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa to Japan, Micronesia, Hawaii and French Polynesia.
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Description
A small sap-sucking sacoglossan sea slug named for its dense black speckling. Like other Elysia it feeds on green algae and can retain the algal chloroplasts in its tissues.
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/species/elysia-cf-nigropunctata-phillipines-indo-pacific-south-china-sea/
Identification
Olive-green body, clouded and finely veined with darker green and sprinkled with small whitish spots and many jet-black dots; the black dots are largest and densest along the parapodial margins and on the rhinophores. Parapodia rounded, paler and unclouded on the inner side.
Similar species
Elysia marginata is larger and has a distinct black and orange parapodial rim rather than scattered black dots.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Shallow reef flats and rocky areas with algal turf; around 0–10 m.
Food
Like other Elysia, sucks the sap of green algae.