Reticulated Sap Sucking Slug

Elysia rufescens

Elysia rufescens is an olive green sea slug adorned with large white spots in a reticulated pattern. It typically grows to about 6 centimetres in length. The parapodia of this species are somewhat convoluted, featuring dark blue edges and a submarginal orange line. Its rolled rhinophores have blunt, greyish ends, which help distinguish it from other similar species, such as nudibranchs, although it is classified in a different clade of gastropods known as Sacoglossa. This species inhabits the Pacific Ocean, with a distribution that includes shallow inshore reefs along coastlines from South Africa to Hawaii and Australia. Elysia rufescens is typically found at depths shallower than 40 metres, with most records occurring at depths less than 20 metres. It primarily feeds on green filamentous algae, particularly Bryopsis pennata, which it grazes using specialized teeth. Elysia rufescens is known to be a simultaneous hermaphrodite, allowing it to reproduce with any other individual it encounters. When divers encounter this slug, they may observe it grazing on algae, showcasing its unique feeding behavior. The species has not been evaluated for conservation status, but it is found in various marine ecosystems.