Moridilla brockii
Bergh, 1888

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Glaucidae

DISTRIBUTION

Tropical Indo-West Pacific

PHOTO

Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, Australia. May 1986. PHOTO: Bill Rudman.

RELATED TOPIC

Defensive coloration in sea slugs

The bright red tips to the cerata of this aeolid apparently warn potential predators of the presence of the cnidosac which contains the stinging nematocysts removed from the cnidarian food of Moridilla brockii. When disturbed, Moridilla puts on a spectacular 'startle' display, uncoiling the large rolled cerata and pointing them at the source of the disturbance. There are few anatomical reasons to retain Moridilla as a genus distinct from Phidiana.

References:
• Rao, K.P. (1965) Moridilla brockii Bergh 1888, redescribed with notes on anatomy and early development. Journal of the Marine Biological Association, India, 7(1): 61-68.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (October 14) Moridilla brockii Bergh, 1888. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/moribroc

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