---
title: Nudibranch (Nudibranchia)
scientific_name: Nudibranchia
common_name: Nudibranch
rank: Order
published: 2024-11-19T18:41:51.573Z
updated: 2026-08-03T21:32:47.061Z
tags: Nudibranch, Nudibranchia, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch
---

# Nudibranch (*Nudibranchia*)

## Quick facts

- **Rank:** Order
- **Scientific name:** Nudibranchia
- **Body shape:** Invertebrate - Not a fish - coral, mollusc, crustacean, echinoderm and other invertebrate groups.
- **Species listed here:** 24

## How to recognise this group

- soft, shell-less body
- bright, varied colour patterns
- small size, usually under 10 cm

Nudibranchs are soft-bodied marine molluscs that lack an external shell, presenting a wide range of body forms. Often featuring bright colours and intricate patterns like spots, stripes, or blotches, many species possess external gills visible as a dorsal plume or finger-like projections called cerata. Their name, from Latin, means "naked gills," referring to these exposed respiratory structures. Sizes typically range from a few millimetres to several centimetres in length.

These animals inhabit coral reefs, rocky slopes, seagrass beds, and sandy substrates, from shallow intertidal areas down to 40 meters (130 ft). Nudibranchs are specialist feeders, preying on specific sponges, hydroids, bryozoans, soft corals, or sea anemones; some species feed on other nudibranchs. Many species sequester defensive compounds, such as toxins or nematocysts, from their prey, storing them in their cerata or skin for protection. Their bright colouration often functions as a warning to predators. On the reef, these typically slow-moving animals are often conspicuous.


## Species (24)

- [Aegires Villosus (Aegires villosus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/aegires-villosus)
- [Blue Dragon (Pteraeolidia semperi)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/blue-dragon)
- [Branched Soft Coral Eater (Phyllodesmium poindimiei)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/branched-soft-coral-eater)
- [Cadlinella Ornatissima (Cadlinella ornatissima)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/cadlinella-ornatissima)
- [Chromodoris Quadricolor (Chromodoris quadricolor)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/chromodoris-quadricolor)
- [Glossodoris hikuerensis (Glossodoris hikuerensis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/glossodoris-hikuerensis)
- [Hypselodoris Ghardaqana (Hypselodoris ghardaqana)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/hypselodoris-ghardaqana)
- [Hypselodoris Infucata (Hypselodoris infucata)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/hypselodoris-infucata)
- [Hypselodoris Maridadilus (Hypselodoris maridadilus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/hypselodoris-maridadilus)
- [Jorunna cf. Parva (Jorunna cf. parva)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/jorunna-cf-parva)
- [Mexichromis Katalexis (Mexichromis katalexis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/mexichromis-katalexis)
- [Obsolete Goniobranchus (Goniobranchus obsoletus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/obsolete-goniobranchus)
- [Ornate Armina (Dermatobranchus ornatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/ornate-armina)
- [Phyllidiella Pustulosa (Phyllidiella pustulosa)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/phyllidiella-pustulosa)
- [Pikachu Nudibranch (Thecacera pacifica)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/pikachu-nudibranch)
- [Placida Kevinleei (Placida kevinleei)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/placida-kevinleei)
- [Reticulated Nudibranch (Goniobranchus tinctorius)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/reticulated-nudibranch)
- [Ringed Chromodoris (Goniobranchus annulatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/ringed-chromodoris)
- [Risbecia Pulchella (Hypselodoris pulchella)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/risbecia-pulchella)
- [Rüppell's Wart Slug (Phyllidia rueppelii)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/ruppells-wart-slug)
- [Spanish Dancer (Hexabranchus sanguineus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/spanish-dancer)
- [Springbok Wrinkle Dorid (Tambja affinis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/springbok-wrinkle-dorid)
- [Twinspot Rainbow Dorid (Mexichromis pusilla)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/twinspot-rainbow-dorid)
- [Varicose Phyllidia (Phyllidia varicosa)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch/varicose-phyllidia)

---

*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/nudibranch)*
*Updated: August 3, 2026*