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Grand pleurobranch
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
A very large side-gilled slug (Pleurobranchida), one of the biggest in its genus, reaching 20 cm or more. Living animals often hold the rear of the mantle erect, folded into a backward-facing siphon. Colour is highly variable.
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Usually white with large elongate brown patches, but ranges from almost wholly dark brown to white with pale brown spots. The mantle is covered with rounded polygonal tubercles outlined by a white reticulate network, the tubercles often tipped pale brown. The gill lies along the right side beneath the mantle.
Pleurobranchus peronii is smaller and lacks the white reticulate network outlining the tubercles; its juveniles can resemble young P. grandis.
Coral reefs, on rubble, sand and reef slopes.
Like other Pleurobranchus, mainly ascidians (sea squirts).
