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Black-Margined Nudibranch

The black-margined nudibranch is a common sea slug found throughout the Indo-Pacific. Its striking colors help it stand out and warn predators that it’s poisonous and won’t make a good meal!

 

This nudibranch is typically creamy white, bordered by a distinct dark line along its mantle. Its dark ear-like structures, which are called rhinophores, and dark-lined gills also serve to enhance its dramatic appearance. In general, rhinophores are very important for nudibranchs — they are used to detect chemicals in the water and can be smell or taste receptors. Growing up to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long, the sea slug has a soft, elongated body with wide, undulating edges that ripple as it moves along rocks and corals.  

The black-margined nudibranch is usually found on coral reefs or intertidal areas in shallow waters near its preferred prey: sponges. It doesn’t travel far in its life — some nudibranchs spend their entire life on just one sponge or coral! This sea slug gets some extra benefits from its special diet. Feeding on sponges lets the nudibranch accumulate metabolites that are toxic, providing a chemical defense against predators.

 

 

Like many nudibranchs, not much is known about the population of the black-margined nudibranch or its primary threats. However, since this animal relies on healthy coral reef ecosystems, it may be impacted by habitat degradation, coral bleaching, or ocean acidification.

 

 

Protecting reef habitats is likely essential for the continued survival of nudibranchs like this one. Oceana campaigns to safeguard important coral reef habitats as well as to protect our climate by fighting to stop offshore drilling and promote responsibly sourced renewable energy.

 

 

  • Anatolii, K. & Zhukova, N. (2024). Food preferences of two nudibranch species from the South China Sea revealed by fatty acid trophic markers. Marine Ecology 45(3). DOI:10.1111/maec.12792 
  • Animal Diversity Web 
  • Kolesnikova, S. A., Diep, C. N., Tu, V. A., & Lyakhova, E. (2017). Steroidal Metabolites from the Vietnamese Nudibranch Mollusk Doriprismatica atromarginata. Chemistry of Natural Compounds 53(1). DOI:10.1007/s10600-017-1948-9 
  • Sethi, S. N. & Otta, S. (2016). Report on new record of the black-margined nudibranch,  Doriprismatica atromarginata (Cuvier, 1804) from the inshore  waters of Bay of Bengal along Karaikal coast. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences 43(8), 1560-1561.  

 

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