Related FAQs: Nudibranchs, Nudibranchs 2, Nudibranch Identification, Nudi ID 2, Nudi ID 3, Nudi ID 4, & Nudibranch Behavior, Nudibranch Compatibility, Nudibranch Selection, Nudibranch Systems, Nudibranch Feeding, Nudibranch Disease, Nudibranch Reproduction, Berghia Nudibranchs, Marine Snails 1, Marine Snails 2, Marine Snails 3,  Marine Snails 4, Sea Slugs,  Seaslugs 2, Snail ID 1, Snail ID 2, Snail ID 3,  Related Articles: Dorid et al. Nudibranchs pt. 2, Aeolid Nudibranchs pt. 3, Sea Slugs, Gastropods, Mollusks, Aiptasia/Glass Anemones /The Conscientious Marine Aquarist Nudibranchs, The Naked-Gill Sea Slugs, pt. 14, Aeolids To: Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Pt. 4, Pt. 5, Pt. 6, Pt. 7, Pt. 8, Pt. 9, Pt. 10, Pt. 11, Pt. 12, Pt. 13, Pt. 15, Pt. 16

By Bob Fenner

Pteraeolidia ianthina (Angas 1864). Sea Dragon. Mauritius, East Africa to Australia, Japan over to Hawai'i. To 15 cm. Photosynthetic via endosymbiotic zooxanthellae, harvested initially be eating hydroids. Indonesia and Hawai'i at right. Fiji and S. and N. Sulawesi pix below.  http://www.seaslugforum.net/search.cfm?searchstring=Pteraeolidia+ianthina+

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Family Flabellinidae: Elongate bodies that taper posteriorly to a point. Have clusters of cerata (appendages) along dorsal surfaces where digestive diverticula ascend. Many ingest cnidarians as prey and celebratedly store the unfired cnidocytes for their own defense on their upper bodies. Oral tentacles are like handle-bar mustaches... long and sweeping up and backward. 

Genus Flabellina: Papillate rhinophores.

Flabellina bilas Gosliner & Willan 1991. Indo-West Pacific; Red Sea to Indonesia. N. Sulawesi (Lembeh Strait) pix.

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Flabellina exoptata Gosliner & Willan 1990. Indo-West Pacific. To 3 cm. Have papillae rather than perforations making up their rhinophores, which are orange with yellow spots. Thick Cerata with a purple ring and cream apex. Two Fiji, and N. Sulawesi pix below. http://www.seaslugforum.net/search.cfm?searchstring=Flabellina+exoptata+

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To: Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Pt. 4, Pt. 5, Pt. 6, Pt. 7, Pt. 8, Pt. 9, Pt. 10, Pt. 11, Pt. 12, Pt. 13, Pt. 15, Pt. 16