2026 · Photo: Boaz Liebes
Favorinus mirabilis
Miraculous egg-eater
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
- Size
- 5–15 mm
- Depth
- 0–10 m
- Native range
- Western Pacific: Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia
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Description
A small, colourful aeolid described from Sagami Bay, Japan; its name means 'marvellous'. Members of Favorinus are known for feeding on the egg masses of other sea slugs.
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/species/favorinus-mirabilis-phillipines-indo-pacific-south-china-sea/
Identification
White ground colour with a yellow-brown back; dark brown rhinophores lamellate along their whole length. About 12 groups of yellow-brown cerata per side, each with a single deep purple spot just below the tip. Oral tentacles and front of the foot yellow.
Similar species
Favorinus perfoliatus has only 6–7 ceratal groups per side and lacks the purple subapical spots.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Intertidal to shallow subtidal reefs; recorded to about 10 m.
Food
Like other Favorinus, probably the eggs of other sea slugs.
