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Slender sap sucking slug
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
A slender sacoglossan sea slug originally described as Elysia gracilis from New Caledonia. Molecular work has shown that several look-alike forms are separate species, and records from the Indian Ocean and Red Sea probably refer to such cryptic congeners.
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Very dark green to almost black body with numerous fine white longitudinal lines. Parapodial margins, head and rhinophore tips edged bright orange-red; some individuals have blue or white spots along the parapodial edge.
Thuridilla bayeri and T. ratna, once considered synonyms, are now treated as distinct species with similar line patterns; separating them reliably may require close examination or DNA.
Shallow hard substrates on reefs and reef flats, from the intertidal to about 11 m.
Like other Thuridilla, it feeds on green algae by sucking cell sap.
