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Varicose wart slug
Papua New Guinea - PNG · Pacific Ocen - Bismarck Sea
One of the largest phyllidiid nudibranchs. It is a specialist sponge feeder and sequesters defensive chemicals from its prey.
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Blue-grey back with three to six longitudinal rows of smooth, yellow-capped tubercles joined into ridges, with black lines between them. A continuous blue-grey ridge runs along the midline. Rhinophores bright yellow. The sole of the foot has a broad black median stripe.
Phyllidia coelestis is very similar but lacks the continuous blue-grey ridge along the midline and the black stripe on the foot sole.
Coral and rocky reefs, from shallow water to about 50 m.
Sponges, notably Hymeniacidon species and Axinyssa aculeata.
