Black slug thing in aquarium

October 8, 2005
From: Kristina Mahan

Can somebody please ID this thing-- I just need to know if he eats coral. He moves around like a nudibranch--- He up and around during the daytime . . . His white strip appears to disappear sometimes . . . Camouflage? It's about an inch long.

Kristina Mahan

kmmahan@hotmail.com

Mahan, K.M., 2005 (Oct 8) Black slug thing in aquarium. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14948

Dear Krissy,
This is the slug-like snail Scutus. Have a look at the Fact Sheet and the many attached messages for more information. The white stripe is the shell, and it disappears sometimes when the black flaps of skin which enclose it, expand fully. Shouldn't be any problem for corals and probably keeps green algal film under control.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Oct 8). Comment on Black slug thing in aquarium by Kristina Mahan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14948

Factsheet

Elephant Slug, Shield Slug, Ducksbill Limpet (Scutus sp.)

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