Commonly called the painted balloon aeolis, this species is identifiable by its white body and its numerous, flattened and swollen finger like growths along its body which are called cerata. The brown digestive gland is clearly visible as a brown line through the translucent epidermis of each cerata. The cerata have a distinctive yellow pigmented tips, with a white ring below this. There are no pigment spots on the body or cerata.

Behaviour

This species feeds on hydroids.

Size

Can reach up to 45mm in length.

Status

Rare

Distribution

Around the west coast of Scotland and Orkney, some records in Moray Firth and Berwickshire.

When to see

All year around.

Facts

• Sea slugs are also known as nudibranchs – with the word originating from the latin ‘nudi-‘ for naked and the greek ‘brankhia-‘ meaning gills.