Flabellina Nudibranch
Flabellina affinis
Sighting evidence at Sponge Gardens, Djerba
These vivid purple and cerise nudibranchs appear in large numbers from March through June, grazing specifically on hydroids that colonise sponge surfaces during the spring plankton bloom. Their bright colouration functions as aposematic warning to fish predators, advertising the noxious compounds sequestered from their hydroid diet. Finding multiple individuals on a single large sponge is common in peak season.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Flabellina Nudibranch is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.