The discovery adds too the diverse range of species found in the Indo-Pacific region.
A team of five female scientists from Germany, indonesia, and Wales have recently identified two new species of wart sea slugs in north Sulawesi, Indonesia – Phyllidia ovata and Phyllidia fontjei.
The Phyllidiidae family is known for it’s abundance in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. These sea slugs are known to feed on sponges and possess a unique defense mechanism where they steal toxins from their prey. They are also recognized for their vibrant colors and chemical defense mechanisms. With over 350 documented species of sea slugs in North Sulawesi, approximately 100 are still unidentified by scientists.However, this recent discovery has added two colorful and rare species to this list.
The species Phyllidia ovata was named after its distinct egg-like appearance in both shape and pattern. Although it has been photographed multiple times over the past two decades in Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Australia by underwater photographers, it was only recently recognized as a new species. This medium-sized sea slug can grow up to five centimeters long and was finaly given a name based on a specimen collected by a scuba diver in North Sulawesi.
Wow, incredible discovery! Nature never ceases to amaze me. 🐌🌊
Michael: Sea slugs are so fascinating! Can’t wait to learn more about these new species.