Rüppell's Wart Slug

Among the many captivating creatures of the 🌊 Red Sea, you might encounter the strikingly beautiful Rüppell's Wart Slug, Phyllidia rueppelii. This dorid nudibranch is a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk, part of the diverse family Phyllidiidae. Growing up to 60 millimetres (about 2.4 inches) in length, it truly stands out against the vibrant reef. Its body, or mantle, is typically a creamy white or pale grey, beautifully outlined by a continuous orange marginal line – a signature trait that is only rarely broken into segments. Adding to its allure are the distinctive 'wart-like' bumps, or pustules, that cover its back, each tipped with the same vivid orange. Its two prominent chemosensory organs, the rhinophores, which it uses to 'smell' and navigate its underwater world, also share this eye-catching orange colour. Like many nudibranchs, Rüppell's Wart Slug is a specialist feeder, gently grazing on sponges found on the coral reefs it inhabits. This species was first described from the 🌊 Red Sea, a testament to its unique presence here, and has also been reported further afield in the 🌊 Gulf of Oman.